My Mom And The Truck

Our family has been putting together a cook book for our church and we had finished printing everything else but the cover. The cover was just trying to be difficult, I'm sure, but we had to print it in order to be finished by Christmas day when we planned to give it out. So, morning comes around, I get up and Mom informs me we need to go finish it. So we get all ready and walk outside to realized my dear beloved father had parked his pickup behind the van. Now anyone who knows my mother, knows she can't drive a stick. She used to but after flipping it (I think there might have been pigs involved) she decided not to anymore. But guess what? Dad is still in bed. Brilliant idea! Mom will try it! It may have been an idea but whether it was a great one is debatable.

So, she gets the keys, gets behind the wheel and puts the key in. Nothing. She sits there and stares for awhile and then gets back out. I look at her questioningly and she answers, "I can't remember how to start it."

We walk back inside, Mom deep in thought of how to fix this. Our neighbor, who was going to help us print the cover, would be meeting us down there any time and we needed to get the pickup moved. She spots my brother. Light bulb! "Hay, Peter, do you know how to start the pickup?"

I can't remember exactly how he put it but it was something along the lines of, "Of course I know how to start the truck." He gave us the exact same look he gave me when I couldn't get the tractor started because I forgot to turn the key. It was the look that said, "How could you possibly not know something so simple?"

So, Peter comes out and instructs our mother on what to do. I told him he'd better get in the other side just in case. So he gets in and they talk a little bit and then they start backing down the hill. You will never believe what the last thing I heard Mom say was. "Where's the brake?"

So I stood there, on the porch, watching my twelve year old brother and my mother drive away with the driver having no knowledge of where the brake is. I think it is sufficent to say I was now wide awake.

They got to the bottom of the hill/driveway and my mother did something. I'm still not sure what. But the truck made a very bad noise and died. My brother looked totally exasperated. Rolling his eyes, he got out and pushed it into place rather than try again with Mom.

So, even us farm people can have troubles. I guess some people think we're super heroes and know everything but that isn't true. My mom can pull two baby goats when they're trying to come out at the same time, but don't ask her to drive a stick.

Love you always, Mom!

Mandy

My Coat

I need hat, gloves and a scarf because I don't have any so Dad is going to try to find me some. But he needed to know what they needed to match. So I sat down with a paper and wrote this description for him (being the nice daughter I am.)

I need hat gloves and scarf to match...um...my coat...which is...ah...sort of purple/maroon...maybe...? Or a dark greeny-blue...sort of... Why are they having the partically color blind person explain this?

I gave up and showed him the coat.

Now you all know how bad I am at explaining things!

On a different note, we were making truffles to bring to our church. So Melissa gave me the option to melt the chocolate chips or cream together cream cheese and powdered sugar. I picked the cream cheese, thinking, "How hard can it be?" I soon learned just how hard it could be. One thing, hard cream cheese is hard to whip. Who knew? Solution: microwave it. Problem with solution: medal beaters in cream cheese. Solution #2: use hair dryer!!! So I took out the hair dryer and started blowing it. Guess what! It worked!!! The beaters still complained, tried to die, and smelled like they were about to start smoking but it did work!!! So now you know: hair dryers are good for thawing cream cheese.

And the truffles taste great!!! (And are Gluton free!!!!)

Merry Christmas!

Mandy

My Spanish and Book

Spanish is coming well and it is still fun. I can now say, "Alguno veces yo trabajar!" Which means, "Sometimes I work!"

I can say other things too. Like, "Yo amor rojo!" or "I love red!" I also have learned that "Perezoso" means lazy! (I know, kind of strange but aparently they like to call their burros lazy and I've been reading a lot about their burros.) I still love it and have starting writing stories in Spanish for practice when I feel like it! Very fun! I think I might start translating some of my other posts for practice because translating them will help me learn some common words. We'll see.

On a differnt note, I'd like prayer. Mom says we can send my first book off to the publisher January First. So, I'm going through my first book one last time and everything. Please pray. Thanks.

Mandy

Safe - Safe With Jesus

I have this picture that comes to my mind when I feel lonely or scared and if I close my eyes, it feels real. And I can feel the happiness and the peace and the love. In my image I'm held by a man, just the way my dad used to hold me when I was little and he'd carry me in from the car. One arm is behind my legs, the other behind my back and I know who he is: He's Jesus and he loves me. And I'm crying but it is from relief. “He's here, I'm safe,” I think. I bury my face against him. And when I close my eyes and see that picture I can feel it. I can feel the warmth and the happiness and the love He radiates. And I can feel him. He's here. He's here. He's here. And I hear a few, softly whispered words. "I love you, Mandy," he says. "Mandy, I love you." And I know that when I open my eyes and I'm back in the real world again, He'll still be here, whispering, "I love you." And I know that I'm safe.

Do you have a picture like that?

Mandy

Things I Like And Am Thankful For

I want to share random things I like for a random reason. So, I am.

I like little boxes. Chocolate. Coconut. Pineapple. Necklaces. Rings. Bracelets. Pads of paper. Note books. The look of ink on paper. Delicate glace things. The colors of the rainbow, especially bright, happy ones. Sunsets. The ocean. The words hope, love, happieness, and peace. Books. Writing, especially writing. Hats. Poems. Rocks. Writing reports. Mountains. Pictures. Drawing. Animals. Christmas. Thanksgiving. Family. Friends. Hair. Smiley faces. Music. Popsicles. Dresses. Tea cups. A dark brown mug with cute mushrooms that I have. Spanish. Games. Cookies. Cakes. Hard candies. Ordiments. Tinsel. Bells. The smell of flowers. Fancy script. Old manners and castles. Shinny stuff. Paintings. Fireplaces. And so, so much more.

Mandy

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thank you, Lord, for everything,
For coming down to die for me,
For giving me my family and friends,
And for giving me eyes so I can see.

Thank you for the soaring mountains,
And for the rivers and the fountains.
Thank you, thank you, for your love,
That showers me from above!

Thank you for this beautiful home!
For the big buildings with their domes!
Thank you for flowers and pictures!
And for cookies made from strange mixtures!

Thank you for for the shimmering snow!
And for chocolate chip cookie dough!
And for rings and necklaces and even shoes!
And for my siblings, who all those things lose!

And Thank you most of all,
For sending us your son,
So that we might be saved,
And may for eternity run!

Mandy

Conquering Enemies (Sort Of)

"Die, evil enemies!" I say as I attack the clothe once more with the iron. "The thing about enemies is, they always seem to have more hiding someplace," I continued, talking to myself (well, for the first few minutes, then I decided this was a great scene that I should promptly add to one of my books. I mean, who doesn't want to read about a girl who attacks wrinkled and plays their evil enemies? Obviously, you do because here you are, doing so!)

Sadly, as I was saying at the time (and now, too, evidently) enemies always have more hiding someplace. I was too right. More and more and MORE just kept coming! Who knew we had so many curtains?

(Mom is saying as she listens to me write this, "But they look so pretty now that they're ironed!" I'm not so sure.)

Another thing I've noticed about curtains. They fade in rather cool patterns. Like, we have a Geni in a bottle (with smoke coming out the top and everything!) and a mushroom and all kinds of stuff! How did it come about that I noticed these things? When sitting on a coach, ill, one notices things like that.

Well, that's pretty much all for now! Mandy, signing off!

Justice and Mercy

Justice: The maintenance or administration of what is just especially by the impartial adjustment of conflicting claims or the assignment of merited rewards or punishments.

I was reading a book tonight and the character asked, "How can God have mercy and justice in equal parts?" And as I thought about it, I couldn't put the answer into words. I thought I had to do a bunch of research and find verses and everything but I decided to step back and pray on it.

And I learned something from it. I'd known the answer all along.

I've never thought much on it, I just trusted God. He said He was just and merciful and I believed Him. I didn't need proff. I got it, I understood it...but it didn't connect once I tried to touch it.

And I let myself go too big. I was trying to make it too complicated. And then Mom said something wonderful, "Sometimes the best answer is the simplest one."

It clicked. The simplest, truest answer. God deals justly to those who don't believe in His Son, Jesus Christ. He is merciful to those who believe He lived, died and rose again to save us and have accepted Him. It is that simple.

But sometimes we forget that God isn't trying to confuse us but is always whispering the simple, sweet answers in our ears.

Mercy: Compassionate treatment, especially of those under one’s power.

Will you find justice or mercy? I've found mercy.

Mandy

My Eight Year Old Trip

My Aunt Miriam has always taken the double cousins, me included, on an Eight Year Old Trip. We are paired with the double cousin our age and taken on a several day trip to where ever she feels like! And at eight, this is awesome!

So Andrew and I packed us and all our stuff into the backseat of her car and we were off! Immediately we came up with what to play. Spies! The cars behind us were the enemy giving pursuit! The seat bucks were radios! The windows were high-tech computer screens! The armrests were levers that should never be pulled but under the worst circumstances (which, of course, happened every few minutes!) We had the time of our lives shooting at enemies, pretending to fly, and whatever else we could think of that was loud and awesome!

Sadly, Aunt Miriam got what you called enough. She suggested we listen to a book on tape called Soup. We wilted. Who wanted to listen to Soup instead of using rocket launchers to blow up the enemy? National security was on the line, you know! But we did listen to Soup. It was a good book on tape and we colored in our coloring books.

Eventually, we made it to Denver where we meet our other aunt that always goes with us on Eight Year Old Trips. We were to stay at Aunt Vonda's (which was also totally cool and had all kinds of things for international spies!)

I can't remember everything we did and in what order but I remember a lot. We went to the zoo, a place where we ate with chop sticks, a butterfly garden where we held a tarantula!!! Cool! And we went to a place where we got dressed up in old-fashioned clothes and got our picture taken (after we played we were pioneers while our Aunt's got dressed). We went to Build-A-Bear and got bears (mine was called Princess) and a gift shop type thing.

But I think we had the most fun in the car where we automatically changed into spies with awesome gadgets. Who needed more?

It's one of my fondest memories. I hope you enjoyed it!

Mandy

God's Greatness

Have you ever just stopped to think about God's greatness? I have, many, many, many times. And every time I do, it is more and more amazing to me.

Just think about the stars. Little tiny specks of light in the sky, giving a picture of his love. And every time we get closer to one, when a closer picture is sent from some space craft, they just keep getting prettier, more amazing, more beautiful.

Have you ever notice how fast the stars move? About a foot per hour, or so. When you are laying awake and cannot sleep, you can watch them. And every time you just think you've studied each one in your view point, they move on and there are more. It isn't like those stick to the roof, glow in the dark kind. They are much, much, much more amazng! And I don't even the scientific stuff that makes them even more so!

God knew that on the one night I was laying awake, feeling alone, that I would be able to see the stars and feel His love through it. And He made them because of it. When I look at the stars, I see His love, unmeasurable, unimaginable, undescribeable. And if you've never felt what I feel, I can't tell you how it feels. It's too much to explain. His sweet love, his amazing grace, his patience with me, with us, and his perfect reasons, for everything.

They also reminded me that no matter what the pain we are going through, He has a perfect, amazing reason for it. And I can't describe how it feels to know that we aren't suffering for no reason! He has a reason, he will use our pain! Just to know that, no matter what, no matter what He takes, no matter what the situation, no matter how bad it hurts, all I have to do is remember that He loves me, that He doesn't want me to hurt and that this pain is there for His perfect, wonderful, amazing, brilliant, grand, sweet, lovely reason.

And I love Him. I can't even describe how much. I can't make anyone feel like this but I want to. Oh how I want to. How can I just sit here, watching while they go around blindly? How can I when they could feel like this? How? I want them to feel this way.

So many hurting people. So many, Lord. I want to show them love. They don't even know love and it hurts. I want to help them. I want to show them. I want to be their friend. Please. Please, let me help them.

His love is there for all to see. Just look at the stars...

Mandy

The Science Experiment

We learned that I am not the only one to make mistakes in the kitchen, only this time it wasn't due to cooking.

Missy and Rose (the twins) were doing something in the kitchen and it looked more interesting than what I was doing. So, naturally, I went to see what they were doing. They looked a lot like scientist with their flower aprons, bright yellow rubber gloves and sunglasses. Yep, definitely more interesting (plus, there were cookies in the kitchen!)

They continued to pour together chemicals and spout scientific stuff and look real impressive and important and knowledge able and I continued to watch and eat cookies (they were chocolate ones!) Then, they took the container holding the chemicals to the sink and started to run water into it. This is when they stopped looking so impressive. The whole thing started steaming and bubbling and looking altogether bad. Rose stood over it; touching it (the book said it should ‘eventually’ be ‘slightly’ warm, ha, ha, ha!)

Evidently, chemical steam is bad for you. Rose started coughing and sputtering (and…well, sounding all together bad.) I left the kitchen for a few moments and came back to find they hiding out side on the back porch well their science experiment calmed itself.

I was terrified! This was bad, very, very bad! My cookies might be contaminated! My perfectly wonderful cookies! My chocolate cookies! But, luckily, they weren’t! How do I know…hmm, well, they tasted fine! And I’m not dead! Yet…

So now you all know, science experiments can go badly! (And if you already knew that, then you learned that you like my posts…maybe…)

Signing off,

Mandy

Snow!

It's snowing!!!! Yay! I love snow and it snowing! So far it is just little flakes, but it is pretty all the same!

Jesus, thank you for the snow I've been asking for!

Who doesn't like snow? (Well, besides my Uncle Bruce...) I love snow. I'll probably be tired of it by the end of the winter but right now, it's beautiful! The Lord has made amazing things and one of the most beautiful ones I know of is snow!

Snow, A poem by Me!

I have never seen the sea,
So how am I to know?
The sea is far, far away,
But I can see the snow!

I see the snow as it stretches away,
Across a once green plain,
I have seen it when enchanted!
And all it had to do was quietly remain!

The sea enchants by rolling,
In high and mighty waves!
But my snow does not those things,
It just lays amoung the mountian caves.

The sea is big and mighty!
It crashes, roars and cries!
It steals away the sailor,
In its beautifully ugly lies.

But not my cold but lovely snow,
It shimmers in the sunlight.
It is hundreds of glistening stars,
Not unlike the stars at night.

Mandy

Our Mystery (An Edgemont Adventure)

Well, here is another Edgemont adventure. I guess it is sort of taking forever. Sorry about that.

Every kid wants a mystery of their own. I know we always have. Well, we finally get one and it lasted a total of ten minutes! (I’m holding to the theory that we’re just really good detectives.)

We spent the day painting as we did every day for the last week and a half. Afternoon came and we were busily painting the living room in the Edgemont house when Melissa noticed that the pantry in the kitchen, which was right off the living room, looked like a closed in staircase. We opened the pantry door and found that the shelves even looked like they used to be the first few steps of a staircase. Then Peter remembered that one of the closets had what looked like a hatch.

Naturally, this was much more exciting than painting so we took a break to check this out (what kid wouldn’t, I ask you?) Peter got the first look (it being his hatch) and came to report that there was an attic, a very LARGE attic. As big as any one of the houses’ levels and with a high ceiling! It even had a brick chimney!

“An attic?” you ask. Everyone knows that attics have cool old stuff, especially large attics that haven’t been explored in years. Sadly, this one did not. We didn’t even get to go into it but we took great joy in telling the owner of the house that she had an entire new level that she didn’t know she had! That was nice!

But the best part was this: We didn’t have to paint the attic!!! We just got to discover it! Just like Columbus…only on a much smaller level. (Note the ‘much’.)

So now you know. We’re brilliant detectives! If you ever lose your attic, you know who to call!

Well, that is all I can think to add at the moment so I will wish you Buenos noches!

Yours truly,

Mandy

Let Go

We run as far as we can. We walk when we can no longer run. We crawl when all of our energy to stand is gone. But after we stop crawling, when there is nothing more, what do we do then? When every ounce of energy is gone and we lay crumpled on the ground, being crushed by the weight, what then? After we’ve fallen to our knees, after we’ve cried for help, and you’re just laying there. We’re crying, “I can’t take this weight anymore! Make it go away!”

What then….what then?

You run while you can. You walk when you can’t run anymore. You crawl when there is no energy to stand. And when you can’t crawl, you finally see that all you can do is let go because truly, you should have in the beginning. How far did you think you could go on your own? Jesus whispered all along, “Let me take the weight. I’m here, I want to help. Trust me.”

You thought you could do it by yourself but you were wrong. You thought that you were strong enough but then you find that you aren’t. It’s just too much.

Don’t run. Don’t walk. Don’t crawl.

What then, Lord? If we aren’t to run or walk or crawl what are we to do!?

“Let me carry you. If you trust me, lay your life in my hands. Let go of control. You never really had it. You were trying to run all by yourself but you don’t have to. Let me carry you. Let me help with that burden. I know how hard it is! I felt how heavy it is. Let me take it. Let me help you up. I’ll take you across the finish line. Trust Me to run for you.”

People say all the time that you don’t ever give up. You just keep going. You don’t stop; you get back up when you stumble. But sometimes, we’re trying to get back up on our own, trying to hold the burden of grief or pain by ourselves. We say, “Okay, God, you saved me, now I’m going to do it by myself. Have a great day!” And try to run alone.

We can’t do it alone! You will fail. You are going to end up stumbling and falling and not being able to get back up again. It’s too hard for us by ourselves. So give Jesus control. It’s not too hard for Him!

Let go.

P.S. I pray God blesses each and every one of you and that I've said the right things.

Things (Mostly Exciting Ones!)

You won't believe what I did last night! It was fun, exciting, brilliant and possible even dangerous (had I messed up)! It was something I've never done before! It was awesome, cool, amazing! It was fun!!! It was...it was...it was... ready? Cutting my dad's hair! I even got to use an electric hair cutting thingy!!! That made noise!!!!!! And I acted professional!!! (I barely even smiled...well, I didn't for part of the time at least...) It was fun and exciting and new!!!

New subject! My dad got a truck driving job again! He's probably the best truck driver ever. He has driven over a million miles without even a single ticket! (Alright, he did get one ticket but that was for forgetting to put money in at the library, so that is besides the point... hmm, what was the point?) He's even gotten rewards for his safe driving!!! And, this is the best part, he likes it!

Thinking...thinking...

I'm doing well in Spanish...I think!!! A few days ago I read an entire story aloud with only a couple mispronunciations! (It was a story I'd practiced all week but still...)

And I just found the word for swordsman!!! Why is that interesting? I don't know, I just though it was! Floretista! It sounds pretty cool but I don't know if I'm pronouncing it right so... Decide for yourselves!

Well, that's it for now! Until later!

Mandy

P.S. Looking this over, I really liked explanation points...

Please Pray

I'm asking that you all pray for one of my friends. Her name is Brittany. The Lord knows the reason, just please lift her up.

Thank you SO much.

Mandy

Learning Spanish

This year I'm learning Spanish! Despite the fact I can't pronounce even english words properly, I love it! It is fun and exciting! Of course, I want to share my extensive new knowledge (about twenty Spanish words!) with my siblings. Sadly, they take this thing way too seriously. My two youngest siblings must have decided that I needed to get these words pounded into my head for they immediately started parading around the house chanting, 'Usted trabajar! Usted trabajar! Usted! Usted! Usted trabajar!'. What does this mean? I'll tell you in a moment.

How this all came about was, we were cleaning the house after our mom and dad went to town and I started telling them of my new Spanish knowledge. First, I started with greetings, of course, such as: Buenos dias, buenas tardes, and buenas noches! Good morning, good afternoon and good evening! Now, I knew a sentence that went perfectly with the work they were supposed to be doing so I told them, 'Usted trabajar.' I'll tell you right now, it was a bad idea. I don't think they heard me when I said that it meant, 'you work!'

Oh well. So, we listen to them chanting, 'Usted trabajar,' for awhile, we'll live.

Anyway, I love Spanish! Who wouldn't? Learning anew language is awesome!

Sadly, that is all I have to say for now. So, adios!

Mandy

A Poem

Jesus, I love you,
And no one can know,
Just how far,
That love goes.

How could I live?
Without you today?
Life is too hard,
To find my own way!

Death is now nothing!
You’ve conquered the grave!
With you as my guide,
I find I am brave!

Without you I’m nothing!
A simple small speck!
But with you I’m something!
No longer a wreck!

Sin cannot cage me!
I am set free!
Thank you, dear Father!
Now your servant I’ll be!

I love you, Jesus! So very, very much!

Very Random Randomness

My sister, whom I mention a lot, likes to say, “I put it somewhere so I can find it. The only problem is, I can’t remember where that is.” Now, you all know that when someone loses something that is yours, that you need it can be annoying. Why am I bringing this up? Well, I had a blog post and she lost it. According to her, she just put it somewhere that now has been forgotten. I don’t believe her. It was most certainly lost, misplaced, mislaid, invisible, cast away, missing, hidden, obscured, gone astray, nowhere to be found, strayed, lacking, wandered off, forfeited, vanished, wandering, minus, without, gone out of one's possession, absent, gone!!!!

Okay, big breaths. So, now you know my huge dilemma, impasse, quandary, mire, crisis, plight, quagmire, pickle! What am I supposed to write about now? It was a nice, short fantasy story that dealt with ‘dying of lack of malnutrition’. Oh well, it may never be seen again.

New subject! Poems. I told you I’d get back to that (in the story ‘Hats’.) You all know that I love writing. I write quite a bit (to put it lightly. No, seriously. This is putting it REALLY lightly.) Poems are wonderful, great, grand, terrific; cool…I could go on and on. They can talk about almost anything. I love writing them, reading them and talking about them. We all know that poems are wonderful.

Moving on again. I know, I’m being random (even more than usual) but I just can’t keep my mind on anything (sigh).

Book update! That’s a great subject!

I am almost finished with the third book (which is really the fourth because the prequel is number zero)!!!!! I have started (and got fifty pages or so) into the fourth book! Mom is working on editing the first book (not the prequel, the first one because you have to publish the first one first and then go back or something. Don’t ask me, I’m confused too!) Thank you, Mom, it means SO much!

I’m hoping for before Christmas (to get it sent out, I mean) but we’re busy, so I don’t know. The Lord is teaching me patience and I am accepting it slowly. God’s timing is perfect. But I can still hope.

I love planning out new books. It’s so fun. Quests and swordfights and sea chases and trying to see what God is telling me to show the readers through this one. I’m not sure yet but He’ll show me.

Well, that is all I can think of for now. I wish you all a wonderful night (I really do!)

Mandy

A Small Note about My Pastor

My pastor is one of my biggest heroes (right up there with my mom, Dad and Aunt Miriam). Why? Because he cares about people, doesn't mind telling the truth, is kind and funny and doesn't make you feel stupid if you want to ask a question. He doesn't single you out when he preaches and doesn't pretend that he is perfect. He uses his mistakes as examples and that makes me feel like I'm not alone. I know that talking about failures isn't easy and means you often have to swallow your pride but he does anyway.

My pastor is one of my biggest heroes because he loves God.

So when I recommend my pastor's blog it's because I think God will use it. God will say things through him if this is God's will.

well, that's all for now,

Mandy

I Have a Recommendation

Well, I have a recommendation! (Actually, I have several that I could decide to post but for now I just have one.)

My pastor has started a blog...

Wait! Hold it! Just one second here! Can you read each other's comments? Does it work that way?

Well, if you can, you might have seen a comment he made. Anyway, I'm sort of scatterbrained today, so forgive me if I keep interrupting myself.

Where was I? Oh yes. My pastor has started a blog. I am recommending it to you all. So, if you would like to check it out here is the address. I know that you will enjoy all he has to say, for he has inspired me in many ways.

Did that just rhyme? That was not intended.

Here is the address: earthboundm.blogspot.com/

Enjoy!

True Friends

What is a true friend? A true friend is often described as one willing to lay down his life for another. But there is more to being a friend. God will not have all of us die for our friends, some of us will need to live, to care and to love.

A true friend is someone who forgives, no matter what the other did. A true friend is one who listens to everything, who shares your sorrows and joys, who, despite your background, despite your failures, despite your mistakes, will always be there. A true friend will give you a hug to cheer you up, even when all they want to do is cry themselves. A true friend will tell you when you are wrong and a true friend will except that they were wrong. A true friend doesn't mind if you wear makeup or not, or how you dress, or if you have a cell phone. A true friend sees you as the person you are inside. A true friend will make you laugh, when you just want to cry or will hug you when you are crying. A true friend will never leave you.

A true friend isn't someone who tells you that you are always right. A true friend isn't someone who turns their back if you do something wrong and pretends it didn't happen.

A true friend makes you liable for your mistakes and a true friend will also forgive.

There is no truer friend than Jesus. He has every one of the qualities of a true friend and so much more. And as Christians, every one of us should always be a true friend.

Are you a true friend?

Our Long Trip To Trust

The last couple years has been hard for us. My dad got ill two Februarys ago and was ill for a whole year. Dad couldn’t drive truck anymore. Bills stacked up and things got really hard. Christmas was going to be a very small deal because we just didn’t have the money. So many times I heard God saying to me, “Trust.”

It was about a week before Christmas when we had our candlelight service that we were ‘adopted’. The hospital adopts one family a year and gives them gifts. One family who’s Christmas wasn’t going to be very good.

I stood there in our overcrowded little log cabin church building as they brought gifts upon gifts out from the nursery. Gifts I’d watched them bring in earlier that evening and hoped one was for me. They were all wrapped beautifully and they were all for us so we’d have a good Christmas. And my mom and dad had said we were having a very small Christmas with a few gifts, we watched as God said "No, you're going to have the best Christmas ever."

I wanted to walk closer, I wanted to say thank you, I wanted to touch them but all I could do was stand there. Looking back I guess I was in shock. The Lord had said, “trust” so many times and we had trusted and this was what He gave us in return. Once the shock wore off all I could do was cry. You hear about those stories at Christmas, you watch it happen and never think you’d actually have it happen to you. And now, God gave us a Christmas story all our own.

“Trust Me with everything.” When your bills are over due, when you don’t know where your next meal is coming from, when everything just keeps going wrong, are you still saying, “Lord, you know best. This path has an end and I know you see it. Even if all I seem to have is trial after trial, blessings are always mixed in.”

The rest of the two years things just got harder and harder. Things went wrong, bills needed paid. Our church gave us food and money gifts. We started a Handyman service (Honey Do Services) and did whatever we could. And you know what? God never once let us down.

I know trust is hard to give but maybe these trials weren’t only for my parents. Through these trials I grew a lot in my faith. It got steadier. I learned patience. I saw God in more ways during that time than any other. I could watch God work. Every single day, I witnessed as miracles happened.

Why is trusting God so hard?

God has done nothing to deny Himself trust. When has He ever failed? Never. When has He ever hurt us? Never. When has life ever been so hard that you no longer want to live? Never. When has He ever turned his back on you? Never. When were you tested so far that you couldn’t take it anymore? Never. Are you still alive? Do you still stand? Are you clothed and feed?

Sometimes the hardest thing for a Christian to learn once saved is to trust. God watches after His sheep, but we often forget, don’t we? We say, “God, when is it going to stop? Haven’t I been tested enough? Why do these trials keep coming? What is it I’m missing? Are you trying to teach me something? I don’t understand!” Maybe God is saying it’s time to learn to trust.

We learned to trust in this last one and a half years but trust isn’t something you learn and then move on. Trust is constant. We seem to need to learn over and over.

God isn’t leaving,
He understands,
He sees our problems,
And He has a plan.

He loves us always,
He sees our fears,
He knows are worries,
He feels our tears.

Are you trusting?

Cliff Painting!

Today I went cliff painting, painting on a cliff! (That's why it's called cliff painting) Confused? Well, we are painting this house with a shale wall behind it (as it one foot behind it) so there is no level ground (at all) to set a ladder on. What did we do? We leaned the ladder against the cliff and the house and hoped not to fall (it took faith especially with Missy singing about 'if I fall' and 'hard to keep my feet on the ground' and stuff. Very helpful).

After cliff painting, I went rail painting, painting off a rail! (That’s why it's called rail painting). Confused again? Well, I stood on a porch rail, clung to a post, hung myself out and painted the roof. Once again Missy was singing about falling and other unhelpful things.

Besides that, my day was a day full of paint and paint and...well, paint.

Comments

I want to thank those who have commented on our blog. Most of you have yet to realize just how much I mean it when I say, "I like comments!" I really do. Sometimes it feels like no one is reading my blog because I go weeks without a single comment! It's horrible, don't you know! So, seriously, if you want to say something, please leave a comment! But I also ask that you keep those comments apropriate.

Thanks SO much for reading!

God bless,
Mandy

My new pet

I got a new pet a few days ago. He is a great flier! No, he doesn’t fly. A cat can’t fly, don’t you know. No, sir, he doesn’t fly, he is just a flier. What? You demand in confusion. Let me explain.

We got this cat at the Humane Society. He is just a baby and is just plain adorable. He is grey and his name is Pineapple. No, I’m not kidding. I named my cat Pineapple. Don’t worry, the vet thought it strange, too, so you aren’t alone. Along side our bunny, Marshmallow, we have a strangely named pair.

Now back to the flier thing. Reason one for getting him: he was cute. Reason two: my dad fell in love when he saw him catching flies and eating them. After that, it was settled. We got Pineapple.

The poor kitty was called so many things that we both got confused. His official name was always Pineapple but my mom couldn’t bring herself to call him Pineapple so the other kids started coming up with names that they could call. It started with Duke, then Shadow, then Orion, then Oliver and who knows what else! Thankfully, for the most part, they’ve calmed down, adjusted to the name Pineapple and started calling him that.

He is the friendliest cat you could ask for but when he wakes you up in the middle of the night wanting petted it gets a touch on people’s nerves. He purrs every time anyone picks him up. Megan once said, “The purr would have sounded more apologetic if he hadn’t been still liking butter from his lips.” This was just after he’d eaten her toast when she wasn’t looking.

He and Miss Misty May Morning, our other cat, are arch-enemies. They may have been friends by now but when one wants to make up, the other is angry and hisses. When the one who was angry wants to make up, the other was offended by the first’s actions and hisses. So, they go in a circle, never being happy with one another.

Cinnamon, our dog, just ignores them both, having gone through countless new pets and not really caring anymore.

All in all we’ve all fallen in love with Pineapple and we’ll probably have many more stories to tell about him.

Yours truly,

Mandy

Our Sign

So, the dogs are tearing up our door. What do we do? Electrocute it! But since I will trip over it we made a sign. This is what it says:

Caution!
There is an electric fence wire running across the door! Watch your step! Do not trip over it! Do not electrocute yourself! PLEASE! Mandy, this means YOU! It is most likely live! It will hurt if you touch it! It will hurt if you trip over it! It WILL hurt! ….getting the point yet? Do NOT do it, Mandy!!!!!!!! How many times need I bang this into your heads? Do NOT!!!!

Prince Charming….the Toad?

How is someone supposed to know if a girl is a tomboy? It might be a hint when they see a frog and go, “A frog, awesome!” That was me at Edgemont. Whether my brain was fried by the 110 degree temperature or if I was just glad to see a frog is yet to be determined.

Anyway, when we dug poor Prince Charming up I had to rescue him. He was the fattest frog I’d ever seen. But he was quite dry so, naturally, I put him in a container with water. I then took him to show to mother like a five year old with a trophy. Wait? Is that right? Maybe it should have been the other way around but at this point I don’t care.

Mother’s response was, “That is not a frog, it is a toad.”

“Oh,” was my response. Then I smiled hugely, “Prince Charming, the toad.”
The toad looked at me as if to say, “You should have known I was a toad. How rude.” In any case, he didn’t look happy.

“Do toads like water?”

“No,” is what Prince Charming’s look said.

“No,” replied my mother. Prince Charming tried to remove himself from the water. His container (which smelled suspiciously of a coffee and paint combination) was too large for him to escape from. This was a good thing because a wet toad running free in the camper trailer would not have been a great plan.
Prince Charming, his indigent croaks making him most un-charming, was taken back outside.

Having work to do but with the neighbor dog running around, we decided it was a good idea to put Prince Charming’s container up high.
I went back to work with Peter’s cries of ‘cool!’ and Jules’ ‘it’s so cute!’ ringing in my ears.

I’m sorry to say that is the last I saw of Prince Charming. The toad sympathizers let him go without giving me a chance to say goodbye. (I will not point fingers but it was a certain Mom of ours….)

So that is pretty much all there is to Prince Charming’s story. Huge sigh.

Yours truly,
Mandy

Camp

I had an awesome two weeks of camp but it was really hard emotionally. I spent the two weeks trying desperately to hold up two of my pen-pals as they told me about the worsening situation at home. Their dad was coming closer and closer to getting put in prison and one of them was trying to hold up the whole family on her own. All three of us love the Lord so much but I found myself seeing places where I had to step in and remind them of his hand, even when it wasn’t seen. I prayed long and hard both weeks for the right words and actions.

If not for the Lord I would never have made it. How could I hold up these two and take their problems by myself? The answer is so simple: I couldn’t.

My mom said something that caught my attention. Miracles could not happen if there wasn’t first a bad situation. I hope, and beg the Lord, each day that He might help these two dear friends and their situation. I ask for a miracle. But I also ask for strength because I can’t hold them up alone. I’ve tried and failed. I need Him more than anything or anyone else.

As much as I love camp it ended at just the right time. My emotional and physical strength was failing from these two weeks. And as much as I love these friends, I needed a bit of time to pray and ask for guidance. I will continue to talk to them through letters. In the same way I know these two weeks lifted them, it also pushed me down a bit.

I simply ask the Lord to hold them, for I can’t. And I ask him to hold me up because I don’t even have the strength to do that. I can't carry this load on my own.

Are you trying to hold yours?

Food in Edgemont

And well I’m home on the weekend I will post another Edgemont story….

For dinner (on the 6th) we went out to a nice restaurant. After our small camper it was a VERY nice change. It was one of those places where when someone walks through the door and waves, everyone in the place waves back. Still not got a clear image? Well, it’s one of those places with half your grandma’s garage hanging on the walls.
Okay! I admit it! I’m writing this at the restaurant table. I had a great idea for a post and was afraid I’d lose it. So, here I am!
None of us, even Jon who eats more than Dad, could finish. This is MAJOR amounts of food! And….there has got to be an ‘and’ for this…its great! Giant, homemade, wonderful burritos and what’s not to like? And you all know I like food.

Oh The Life Of A Traveler

What good is it to have a blog called 'Just What I Think' if I don't have time to think? My dad says, "Welcome to adulthood." I'm fourteen! I still want to fly on dragonflies and wear buckets. Yet, God is leading me in new things.

Well, my friends and faithful readers, I am off. Today is the day! Camp begins at two which means we're outa here by twelve and we've got TONS to do. As I constantly remind myself, God's timing his perfect. If you're supposed to leave at one and it's twelve and you've got a lot to do, DON'T panic. God knows what He's doing. You don't.

I'll just have to tell you about Edgemont when things slow down, if things slow down!

At this rate I'm going to be abroad more than at home but God is in control and I trust Him more than anyone or anything else.

I LOVE camp (just thought I'd add that).

Yours truly,

Mandy

On The Road...Again

So, we were once again on the road to Edgemont (actually, I should say we are on the road to Edgemont since that’s where I’m writing this). It started at the post office as we dropped off the last bit of mail that would go out for awhile. Our neighbor was there as well and couldn’t resist saying that we looked like gypsies. Well, we did. Our pickup bed was packed up past the rim (supported by the frame my dad made for carrying around his tools). We were (all seven of us) packed into the little pickup as well. A tiny bit cramped.

After the post office it was off to Edgemont but before you get there you pass through Custer. So, obviously, we went through Custer. Julie decided we all needed to know something so she said, “It is really hard to say Custer fast.” She had spent the last few minutes doing just that.

I was in the front seat (oops, am in the front seat) with Mom and Dad. Mom replied, “It’s almost as hard to say Custer slow.”

I had a completely blond moment at that point in time and proceeded in saying, “Custer slow, Custer slow, Custer slow.” I was laughed at. Can you guess why? My memo (just so you know) came in late.

Yours truly,

Mandy

Trip Adventures

This next series (I'm calling it a series!) is dedicated to my mother who bravely endured our corny jokes, the songs we sung all day for three or four days in a row, and the heat. And trust me, it was HOT!

I'm Back...For A Tiny Bit

I'm here. After two weeks. I know, I said it would be one but the job wasn't done in one. But I won't be here for long. Just one week because starting next Monday I'm off for two weeks of came. I will try to post all the stories I came up with at Edgemont for you before then.

If you're interested in where I'm going you can go here for details - http://www.blackhillsbaptistcamp.com/

Mandy

Goodbye…for now

Well, this is goodbye. I’m going to Edgemont for the week to do painting and won’t be back until late and you probably won’t hear from me until even later. I’m sorry I didn’t post anything this last week but my brain was just too fried. You’ll all just have to patiently await my return for more funny stories and speeches.

But, if riding to Edgemont in a crowded pickup (all seven of us, I may add) is any clue, I could have some interesting ones come time to return home. I ask that you pray we all are so overfilled with God’s joy that we get laughy and giggly at some point in the week. Why? Because I like being laughy and giggly (especially when painting) because it breaks the boredom. If everything is funny, then I should be quite entertained. I also ask that you pray that we can get it done this week and that’s really going to take a miracle with all the painting needing done. And just pray for us all and that we don’t get grumpy because if we do that camper is going to get VERY small.

So now you have homework. Pray. Please.

God bless you all,

Mandy

One O'Clock

What is up with one o’clock! One o’clock was always a time that meant nothing and was never noticed. It was not lunch time, it was not supper time and it was not even snack time. There just simply wasn’t a reason to notice one o’clock. Now it won’t go away! It is simply always one.

It started when our car started needing jump started every time we tried to turn it on. So, a solution was found. When you got done with the van you unplugged the fuses. That way, it wasn’t sucking energy. Well, every time the fuses are taken out and then put back in the clock immediately goes to one. So, when we were painting every time we got in the van it was one. We left the house at one, we had lunch at one, we had a bathroom break at one, we went home at one. And even now, whenever anyone says the time, by chance, it’s one for real! One, one, one, one and one!

Have you ever seen the movie ‘ground hog day’? Well, if you haven’t, watch it. If you have, then you know what I feel like!

And can you guess what time I wrote this? At one, of course. This is probably going to be a family joke for eternity.

Yours truly,

Mandy

Fathers' Day

Today is Fathers’ Day. So, naturally, I’m going to talk about my dad. I’m pretty sure every other blog on the planet will be doing the same thing.

What can I sat about dads that’ll make any difference? What is there to say? For mothers you can go on and on. Dads, they just want one thing. So, I’ll say it.

I love you, Dad. I always have and always will. I can not tell you how much but think of the biggest star you can and that can’t hold it all.

There is another Father that I remember every day but today I remember Him as that. My Heavenly Father. Without Him, nothing could have set me free. Without Him, love is just a word. Without God, I am not truthful. Without You, Lord, I’m nothing!

God is love, grace and mercy. He is truth. He is everything and more. He made the stars. Some of them a quadrillion times bigger than the earth. Some even bigger. He made our world, just close enough to the sun and just far enough away so we don’t burn to death or freeze to death. He made us. So tiny that all we are is specks on a speck in a speck of a universe compared to Him and, yet, He loves us. He sent His only begotten son to die. To hang on a cross, the worse death anyone has ever died, for us. These tiny specks. And Jesus came willingly because he loves us.

He died so we could be God’s children. So He could be our Father. And that is love indescribable. So much of it that there is no comparison. Love so big that the universe is far, far too small to hold it.

But for those who refuse to accept Jesus as their Savior, it is love unfound. It is them that will never find God as their Father and who will die a thousand deaths and be separated from Him for eternity. Why is it so hard to accept a package of love? Because they do not think that much love can exist.

I have experienced my Father’s heavenly love and grace. I have walked with Him and yet can not describe it. But I can tell you this: I love Him and I love my dad. What more do I need? I have love indescribable.

Mandy

Characters

There are some things that just don’t shape. Pine nettles and corn chips are two of them. A third is book characters. Other writers might say I’m wrong and maybe this is because I’m an amateur, I don’t know. All I do know is that they don’t shape into what you want them to once they are ‘dry’.

I always start out with an idea, a saying they will say all the time, a secret that they will carry. Something of that sort. This is when they are ‘wet’. This first scene is where you can mold them as best you can. After this first scene they take on their own route and they find their own characteristics. I just type and it comes naturally. It’s like chopping a piece of wood. You can chop it but only if you go with the grain. If you don’t go with the grain, it’s possible but the result is messy. I’ve come to the conclusion that what God wants written is what I’ll write and He’ll use it. This means that characters don’t always turn out exactly as I planned. Then again, some do. It all just depends.

This is just another place in my life that I’ve realized that I must say, “God, what ever you want! Use me; show me what to do. Help me.” I can’t form the characters, but I can give them nudges in the right direction. God will just have to show me what to write. Without Him, I’m nothing. If He is not with me in this, then why am I doing it? If it’s not for Him, then I have no reason to write.

I write for You, Lord. Show me what to do!

Mandy

We like to know what you think of these stories. So, please feel free to comment!

The Eggers

Our Visit to Edgemont

Mom and Dad wanted quality time with us kids so they packed us into the car and we disembarked on an hour and a half drive to Edgemont. Megan got car sick and moaned in the back seat. Melissa helpfully sat and read the whole time. Jon picked on me and ate. And Julie complained about something or other every three minutes. Real great quality time!

An hour and a half is a surprisingly long time in a car with that many people. Somewhere in the ‘red zone’ Julie was commenting on the pretty yellow flowers. Jon then informed her it was a weed. Dad then informed him that it was alfalfa not a weed. So, the most interesting topic on the way there was alfalfa. This does not mean there wasn’t a constant blare of voices (mostly Jon’s).

We finally reached Edgemont, a nice little town with a park, library (LOVE the library!) and a museum. Us kids went to all three while Dad looked at a job for some friends. The air smelled like boiled eggs which isn’t bad if they really are boiled eggs but it’s just not a natural smell for the air in a park.

After those stops we went back where we were fed ice cream. I never before knew it was a crime not to have seconds when dealing with ice cream but when the friend of our parents got done with us it was obvious that not eating seconds was bad form. We ate seconds.

And then we were off again. After all that ice cream we were hyper. If you have ever gone in a car with a champion football team you probably know how we sounded. We sang every song we could think of and as loud as we could. We were off key but we didn’t care. We sang all the louder!

Can you guess what we did then? We made up poems. Actually, my siblings came up with lines and I wrote them down. This is not a small feat with four kids telling you a different way of putting the line, with the car bumping and with random loud snatches of songs every few minutes added in just for fun. You’d think it was confuse Mandy day. Anyway, here is what it turned out like. I think it’s pretty good, even if I say it myself. You’ve got to keep in mind it was written by five hyper children, in a car.

A Poem by Us:

There once was a badger named Fred,
By chance he was rather red.
He really loved to eat bread.
But one day he ran out and said,
I have now run out of bread!
So, he tried to eat duck tape instead,
But he got it wrapped around his head,
And now he is laying in bed.
That is the story of poor, poor Fred.

There was also one about a cow but it’s too long and ridiculous to write, so I won’t.

Suffer for God

On Sunday, Pastor Nick's Sermon made me think.

God says that we should say, “Lord, if it be Thy will, let us do this or that.” So, if someone asks at a job interview, “Where do you see yourself in five years?” We should reply, “Where ever God wants me.”

Being a Christian is not easy. If an easy life is what you want then you are not cut out to be a Christian. Christians are beaten, their belongings ruined, their dreams smothered, and killed. You think it only happened in the Bible? I dare you to look around at the world. It’s happening now. Right now, this minute, people are dying for God. This isn’t easy and if you want easy then don’t come here.

Why do people become God’s people then? Because, God is bigger than the biggest problem. God is love so pure that we need Him. God is grace, the only grace that will save us from sin and set us free. Because in the end, after all that suffering, we’ll get a reward so much better than anything anyone can imagine. Why do we stay when in that much pain? Why? Because we have faith and because when standing for God there is so much more to life. And nothing, not pain or death, can take away the peace, the calm, the love, the hope, the wonderful feeling to know beyond any doubt that God loves us. And no amount of pain can take us away. No amount of pain could make us regret. Not if you are truly God’s.

Even when we have no more strength. Even when we have nothing left. Even when we’re at life's darkest hour - we have God’s strength. He gives us what we need to go on one more day. One more week. One more year. Just one more for Him.

But if you want to sign up, beware. For you must give it all, not just some. Going to church and giving money isn’t all it takes. You better be ready to do God’s will, what ever it is, where ever it is.

God, whatever you want. I’ll do it because I love you. I’ll do it because you loved me first. I’ll do it because failing you hurts worse than any other pain can. I’ll do it because I want to help so much. But, Lord, first you must show me. Show me, Lord, please.

Mandy

Cruising At 0.5 MPH

My day started out just as it always does. I got up, dressed, eat and wrote. Completely normal. After that it was just normal as the rest of the days of this week, and several of last week. I went to paint with my mom and dad and Melissa well the other kids stayed here and did random things about the house.

Painting didn’t end the same, though and it ended short and with us sopping wet. It rained and near about ruined our hard work. That was the end of the painting venture.

We left about 1:00 but that was nothing new because it had been 1:00 every time we got in the car all week, our clock still being broken (sort of).

Afternoon was a bit less eventful. Actually, it was down right boring. We were all just waiting for the grass to dry so we could mow and get it over with.

So, there I was, mowing through the three feet of grass at the pace of a snail. Our lawn mower, despite how old and unreliable, can cut practically anything. When it is running, that is. At a low-ish part, about one and a half foot, I could go at two, which was close to half a mile per hour. I was cruising at the pace, compared to the original 0.2 miles per hour. I spent a spell at two and got myself to move the lever, despite what my little voices were yelling (you know, those voices of reason that aren’t always reasonable) ‘what are you doing? Three is too high!’. I was practically flying! A whole mile an hour! Before the end of the day I was going at four and was kind of comfortable. Note the ‘kind of’.

My thoughts during these hours were rather random. Okay, they stayed on one thing and by the end of mowing I was so bored of it I could have screamed. My mind did not get the memo, obviously, when it refused to move on. It remained stubbornly routed there.

By the end of the day, I was exhausted. At the beginning I’d been tired but now I was just plain worn out. But…there is always a ‘but’, right?...I was happy. Why? One, that subject I was stuck on was Mom’s, which is never a bad subject. Two, I had a ton to be happy about, I was going home, I had some ideas for book scenes, and the hope that tomorrow I might get a letter from one of my three pen pals. Last, but definitely not least and if I’d been smart I would have put this as reason number one but I didn’t, God loves me always!

So, even though my day wasn’t all that grand, at the end of the day, I got lots blessings. Thanks, but I’m too tired to count them all and I doubt you want to sit here for the next year.

Yours truly,

Mandy

A Poem for All

God bless you all today,
Each of you in your own way,
And if an answer did not grace your prayer,
Yes, my friends, He did hear.

Sometimes He says no,
And sometimes yes,
But what we all know,
Is that God does bless.

May your day be a happy one,

Mandy

Conversation

Yesterday Missy and I had a awsome conversation with our wonderful aunt. I thought it brilliant and funny enough to share.

So this is for my wonderful, great, terrific, brilliant, loving aunt. As always, the names have been changed. Hope you enjoy!

Aunt C.: another Excel question!
Us: Hello? Hello? Anybody there? Echo!

Aunt C.: who wants to know?
Us: Us
Us: Meaning we
Us: Two people
Aunt C.: in a house of 7, that is too many possibilities to guess which 2
Us:
Us: Our names start with M's
Us: So, what is an excel question?
Aunt C.: did I ask you?
Aunt C.: thought I was asking Chari
Us: Nope
Aunt C.: guess I hit the wrong name
Us: Oh, that's okay
Aunt C.: I was trying to search for something and couldn't figure out how to do it
Aunt C.: are either of you Excel experts?
Us: No
Aunt C.: WELL! What good are you then?
Us: Writing! Reading!
Us: Fun stuff
Aunt C.: fine then, be that way
Aunt C.: leave me, lost and alone, wandering through thousands of rows of data
Aunt C.: unable to find what I need. (sniff, sniff) I feel so alone
Aunt C.: I think I'll go eat worms
Us: Don't do that! They taste horrible and they are not nutrious!
Us: ....Or so i've heard
Aunt C.: you have to get the variety called "gummy"
Aunt C.: esp. the sour species
Us: You're a genious!
Us: Well, you'd better find Aunt Chari.
Us: Since we're so unhelpful
Aunt C.: ah, yes, a genius I am
Us: We totallt agree
Aunt C.: some days and on certain subjects
Us: Precisely!
Aunt C.: but alas, on Excel I am sadly lacking and lost
Aunt C.: and seeking help from the wrong source, I see
Us: Same here (sniff, sniff)
Aunt C.: all I get here is my ego puffed up
Aunt C.: telling me how smart I am while not solving my problems
Us: He he he he ha! We're great at that
Us: Puffing up ego's is our specialty
Aunt C.: tell me more!
Us: (spelling is obviously not)
Us: I guess we're all just genious with God's help.
Aunt C.: we can't all be good at everything
Aunt C.: spelling I need no help with
Us: Good for you.
Aunt C.: unless I have to type about gastroesophagealduodonescopies
Us: What on earth is that? A paragraph?
Aunt C.: a medical procedure yu'd rather not have done
Us: Why can't they name stuff things that the patient can actually say? Like Fred or Bob or Mark?
Aunt C.: ahh, but that is what they get paid the big bucks for
Us: Hay, i can com up with huge names! How does Helomartoperdagraphmentation sound?
Us: It's lightening here so i gatta go. Bye!
Aunt C.: what an enlightening situation!
Aunt C.: Bye

Some Things We Don't Get

So, there Mom was, watching TV. She switches the channel and a movie’s title comes across. The first thing she says to us is, “This is the stupidest movie ever made.” She then proceeded to watch one full hour of it and then said again, “This is the stupidest movie ever made.” She still continued to watch. When it was over she said. “I’ve watched this fifteen times.”

“I thought you said it was the stupidest movie ever made,” said Rose.

“It is.”

Why did she watch it? We’ll never know.

Sometimes I Wish...

I am forever grateful to be home schooled but there are times when I want more than anything to be public schooled. For more friends? No. I have some of the best friends anyone could ask for.

It’s those times when I think about all those kids longing to fit in and I want to show them that being themselves is fine. It happens when I think about all the kids who need a friend, someone willing to stand up for them even if they don’t look as good as everyone else. And when I think about all the kids who need God’s love and how few are showing the way.

That’s when I want more than anything to be that person. To be the square in all those circles even if I wasn’t liked or accepted.

Some days my heart screams to be able to help. I want it so bad but I’m home schooled. On those days I’m saying, “God, I’m here! Let me help.” And He is saying, “This is not what I want for you. Wait for my plan. I have others for that.”

And then I see me, as myself, getting on a bus, riding two hours to school, going to class, eating a home made lunch since there would be nothing for me to eat, and coming home. And it seems so absurd I want to laugh because I realize why God left me home to be schooled.

Then I’m saying, “Lord, whatever you want! I’m waiting, Lord. Show me what to do and when.”

But on those days, I still wish I could help more.

A Report from Pery.

[Tap, tap….I say, is this thing working? Somebody put me on air…. Oh, I’m on air, righty oh.]

Good day, chaps. This is Reginald Peryweather Cornwalter reporting live from…[What’s all this about? Well, tell him not to send notes when I’m on air….click.] live from the Black Hills. Today’s weather will vary from very cold to very hot depending on where you are. [Yes, what is it? ….Oh, right] and probably middle temperatures too. As for the rain, there will be scattered storms in places so just put your umbrella in the car.

There are two urgent missing person’s reports…. [Yes? They are. Oh dear…] but they are just a dog named Larry, bad name for a dog, I think, and fluffy the cat. [….I was getting there.] Please don’t call in every dog or cat you see because they aren’t near you...probably.

Depending on when you hear this (because our station is so unreliable) I want to remind you to eat a good breakfast, lunch or dinner. Good for the health, you know. […I know but I was just covering all my grounds….I know it probably won’t even reach them until lunch. Stop interrupting.]

With today’s winds there are probably all kinds of things being broken so don’t forget to call your local handyman service. [Yes, I was about to tell them the name. What, do you think I’m new at this? ….Okay, so I am new at this but that is beside the point.] Call into Honey Do Services today! They're in the phone book!

This is Reginald Peryweather Cornwalter, signing out.

Painting

We went painting. Painting? You ask. Yes, painting.

I started out my day as I always do. Got up, ate breakfast, wrote my book, heard Mom get up and was told we were going with her to paint a house. I was once again left out of planning things. From there we went to Deadwood. Attempting to find the house we were to paint, we went up a very steep, narrow road. I commented, “I would hate to drive up this in winter,” winters being so bad here. At the top of this first road was a house with a lady sitting on her porch, just watching the scenery. We turned left, went up another road that was just as steep and found a total dead end. This was obviously the wrong road. Turning around was not an easy task but with my dad, an excellent driver with over one million miles with not even a small ticket (okay, one small ticket but that’s because he forgot to put money in at the library), we got out. We went back down and instead turned right when we reached the house at the top of the first road. After a few minutes going that way we reached another sign saying ‘dead end’ and it defiantly wasn’t anywhere around, so we turned back. As we passed the house and went back down the first road the lady was laughing hysterically. She obviously thought it quite funny. I saluted her as we passed, as I always do.

We did finally find the place. Did we stay? No. We got a paint chip and headed down to the hardware store. The first place did not have the right stuff, so we went to a second place. This place had it but they had to mix it, so we went back to Deadwood from Central City and got lunch. After lunch we went back to the store and picked up our paint. Then we finally got to the house. Dad did some scrapping and on to the painting!

We spent the day painting this house. Of course our van had to go dead too. So we called in emergency help! Our neighbor came and got us out of a rout.

Tomorrow we are going back to do more painting. Oh, fun.

Extreme Sports of SD

White Water Rafting – Try to stay in the boat. Wear a helmet in case of crashes.

Snowboarding – Take skiing lessons first. Wear a helmet in case of crashes.

Skydiving – Jump from a plane. Remember to pull your cord. Wear a helmet in case of crashes.

Ect. Ect. Ect…….

Gardening – The only sport where killing, maiming, squishing and karate chopping are allowed! They say it is relaxing! Wear a helmet in case of flying dirt clunks.

Last night we decided to do some planting (I didn’t, Mom did.). So, we trudged out to the garden with our onions, beats, radishes, turnips (all of which I think are gross) and carrots (which I like). We also had a bowl of flower seeds. We’d spent the last half an hour tearing open flower seed packets and dumping them together. How many are you thinking? Fifteen packages? No. Something more along the lines of a hundred. How many seeds are you thinking? A cereal bowl full? No. More like an eighth of a bowl full. Don’t worry, I couldn’t believe it either! Those packages only have about ten seeds apiece.

So we planted these seeds and then decided to explore the many bushes lining our fence. Most of which are berry. This year, to our complete surprise, there are flowers on these bushes! I’d given them up to dead. But no, obviously SD bushes are stubborn, too.

Mom was very impressed with one of dead apple trees (yes, we’re rough on plants but the winters up here don’t help) which was now coming back from the bottom. Around the end of this adventure Missy exclaimed, “Who ever said a green thumb marked a farmer? I say it’s a black pinky.” We both stared at our black pinkies. Of course, she was right. To make the lines for the seeds you use the side of your hand with your pinky and by the end of such a process you have a black pinky. I must be twice the farmer since both of mine were black! (Or, since I’m double handed, I just switched hands without thinking.)

Well, it wasn’t a bad night but since Missy was bugging me about writing more of my book (since she reads along she often has to wait for me to feel like writing and it bugs her), I did. By then, it was an hour past my bed time (10:00) and I was exhausted, so I left.

In fifteen minutes Mom wants to be woken up, according to this note, so I’d better go.

Yours truly,

Mandy

My Week

Where have you been? You ask. Why are my posts so ridiculously thin? Well, as this Blog’s name implies, this is just what I think and lately there has been no time to think.

First there was a virus that up routed my whole system. How rude! Thankfully everything was saved but the virus took out Microsoft Works (the program my books were on.) and I now have to use Microsoft Word. Nothing is the same. I’m having to relearn where everything is. Dreadful! But, I am stubborn. This close to sending off my book, I’m not giving up. No, sir (or ma’am).

A long time ago, at the beginning of the week, we had a whole troop of relatives out. It was awesome but guess what? It left no time to think up great posts! (Even if I did come up with relatives) We did not completely get rid of our dear, fun, energy stealing cousins until Wednesday. We then mowed the dreaded lawns in our lovely town. And I mean huge lawns, by a hand propelled push mower! That after noon I got a life giving, right on time, lovely letter from one of my three pen pals. (God is SO good and His timing is perfect!)

I was once again not informed of things until an hour before we were supposed to be at church. This was a surprise because being in the middle of nowhere, we don’t have Wednesday nights. We went to church for this special Missionary presentation.

Thursday, more mowing. After mowing, house cleaning. Then, learning how to maneuver the new program with my book and fixing spelling and punctuation mistakes. And then, I crashed. I probably could have written but it would have been something grand like “I mowed, I got sunburned, blah, blah, blah, goodbye”. A total of nine words, three of which are ‘Blah’.

Today is a beautiful, sunny, not too hot, day and I will probably walk to the post office just on principle. I am enjoying God’s love, as always. I’m happy, safe and tired. Yet, a little work never killed anyone…

….’little’ being the operative word.

Yours truly,

Mandy

Relatives

Relatives, we all have them. Some of us just have more. Like me. My mom’s side has a family reunion every two years and you won’t believe the amount of people that show up. I have something like fifty cousins and nearly as many aunts. Uncles, sure I have plenty of them too. I also have second cousins, third cousins and a few people that I’m not sure how they are related at all. They come to the reunion, so they are.

There are over a hundred people and not all of them come which is a good think since we only have one tiny community hall. Any more and we might start suffocating.

This all takes place around the beginning or middle of August, in Broken Bow, at the same time of the fair. (The same fair mentioned in my Aunt’s book, The Double Cousins and the Mystery of the Missing Watch.) It is usually scorching but do us kids mind? No. We all head down the road to the nearby park where we endure the heat as long as we can.

That’s only my mom’s one side. She had a quite a few on the other side as well but we don’t see them that often.

My dad’s side doesn’t have so many but we’re a lot closer. Most of us live right in or around Rapid. So, generally, we just gather whenever we feel like it.

I am very proud of my family and I must also say this: I got my writing talent from God but I also got it from them. They have written stories and books, newspapers and Calendars, Birthday cards in endless amounts. So, yes, this is for all of you. Even those who I don’t understand how they are related.

For God, and for my family.

P.S. No, I can't remember which ones. All I know is that it's confusing how they are connected!

A Poem Called Boredom

Something, something for me to do,
I cannot think, my mind is blank,
I'm doomed unless my boredom leaves,
I'll ask not mom, not say to her,
I'm bored. For then, my head,
with chores, she'll cleave!

I wait, I wait for dear dear friends,
If they come tomorrow my love to lend.
That's hour, hours! So long away!
Give me patience. Please, Lord, I pray.

Update on Not Posting

We have not had a computer for a while. A computer virus closed us down. Good news? The computer guy saved our stuff! So, I'll try to post tomorrow.

Mandy

My Birthday

Today is May 22 and May 22 is my Birthday. Do I feel lucky? Not really. I woke up at the same time as usual: between five and Six O’clock. I ate the same thing, Chex cereal. I’ll probably do the same thing as I do every Sunday but that’s not the point.

Today is the day I remember another birthday. I can’t remember the date or the reason. I know I was four years old. I can remember that we were down near Georgia, visiting some friends of Mom’s. I remember a tiny room, a small bed (although it’s rather fuzzy so I could be wrong.) But what I remember clearly is asking Mom to help me ask God to save me. I don’t remember the reason. I only remember the time because I was getting ready for bed. All I get is a few glimpses of a scene that I want to remember is full color. Yet, what came after made up for that.

I will never be remembered as one of those miraculous stories. I’m not going to be one of those people that can remember a huge change. I won’t be the one to show others it’s doable even at twenty or fifty. But I got something very few others got. I got a life with God from almost the first moment I can remember. I got to know He loved me more than anything through one of the few unbroken homes. I got to hear and understand my whole life. I got to have the privilege of always being able to call upon Jesus through everything and knowing He was always going to be there.

I got the privilege to be happy, loved, cared for, and, at four, I was given eternal life. And I will be remembered as God’s child when I get to the pearly gates.

I hope you will too.

Mandy

Believing Not in Myself

I gave up believing in myself when I picked up a pad of paper and could draw nothing even though I was supposed to be an artist. I gave up believing in myself when I tried to write a character and it fell apart. I gave up believing in me at four as I realized I was a sinner and I could do nothing without God.

Someone might ask, “What kind of god tells a four year old that she is a sinner and can do nothing without him?”

If we were having this conversation for real I might smile (assuming I had the courage to say this at all) and reply, “A truthful one. Someone, that for once, will never lie. So many times a truthful answer at first is much less painful than for one to find out later. For them to find out they are going to spend eternity separated from their Lord and burning in a lake of fire. Wouldn’t you, too, have preferred the truth?”

God’s Wisdom
By Miranda E.

What have I to say today?
Not much at all.
I have quite a lot, in fact,
But what good, would do, my call?
Dare I say what I long to do?
Dare I even pray?
It’s such a silly fantasy and, yet, who knew,
What power, in dreamers, lay?
Patience, they say, patience,
I’ll try hard to learn,
For wisdom comes from patience,
And wisdom makes good passions burn.
Without God, and his wisdom, passions fall,
God gives wisdom in love,
Does He not then love the passions,
That are showed with wisdom from above?
I know not the answer,
Should I even care?
It’s in God’s nail pierced hands,
And they, my dream, are worthy to bear.

Mandy

Pooh, Keys and the Mail

And there we were again, walking to the post office, enjoying the day and discussing….Winnie the Pooh. I am, in point of fact, a self proclaimed Winnie the Pooh fan. If you are not, you have a huge problem. Pooh is adorable, simple, funny and just plain enjoyable. Compared to beans, Pooh is even more awesome. Are you now saying, who is this person who writes books at thirteen, can be completely serious in her faith, and loves Winnie the Pooh? Why are you looking at me? How should I know? I’m just what God felt like making on May 22.

Where was I? Oh yes. Pooh. Now we might have seemed like easy targets for muggers (had there been any in Nemo, which there aren’t) but we don’t go unarmed. What do we bring? M16s? No. Pistols? No. A giant ring full of keys? Yes! Yes? Yes. Melissa carries a big (and I mean big as in an old fashioned jail ring sort) ring of keys stuck in a plastic bag. Megan carries a very big stick (big as in tall, not fat.) I, on the other hand, bring a hat. A hat? Yes, a hat. A safari type hat that is more like a helmet (I like the defensive side). We bring all this in case of a wild dog or cat or just to get the mail.

So, we talk about numerous Winnie the Pooh shows that we remembered and mentioned the animation. We talked over new plans for my book. We took our time and came home. It was much more pleasant than the last time (when it was pouring rain). Since I had gotten three letters, I retired to write three replies.

Thermometers

Ever seen one of those movies where the detective finds a clue that no one else would have ever seen? Like the five containers of salt. Who had five containers of salt, they ask and it solves everything. Well, I’ll tell you who has five containers of salt on their shelf, us. Salt goes on sale, we buy enough for the year. It’s brilliant!

What was I going to say? Don’t worry, it will come to me.… Nope, not coming. Alright, new subject!

How many thermometers do you have in your house and yard? One? Two? We have a total of seven. I’m not lying. Honest! Not one of these can agree. It’s 60 out on one, 50 on another. A third says it’s 80 but it’s in the sun so it no longer counts. On the fourth it’s different every time you look. How do we know what the temperature is? We don’t. We just pick whichever suits us at that moment in time.

“Mom, it’s 80 out can we play in the sprinkler?”

“We can’t pick dandelions for syrup, it’s only fifty.” (Yes, we make dandelion syrup. It tastes like honey but is much runnier, It’s really sweet and great on apples.)

“We can wear shorts, it’s 60 out.” Blah, blah, blah… It’s great!

Why is it we have seven thermometers? Because we do and that’s the best answer you’ll get because we honestly don’t know.

This winter we had problems heating the house. Were we low on wood? No. Did we forget to stoke the fire? Okay, sometimes but that’s not the main reason. "Why then?" you demand. I’m getting there. Patience.

We are all experts at jumping up from our seats. Half way through a TV show Mom goes, “Windows!” We jump up and throw them open. Rain or shine, zero below or sixty above, they get opened. Is this a strange game? No. "What is it then?" you yell. I’m not telling you. So be patient.

Everyone moves away from the windows. Well, everyone but me. I remain rooted to “my spot” (which is right in front of a window). Is this punishment? Did I do something wrong? No, don’t be ridiculous! I’m just stubborn and love my special corner seat.

So, why do the thermometers get a shock and we have problems heating the house? Why do we do this strange procedure? Because Mom gets hot flashes. Hot flashes? You ask. Yes. She randomly starts burning and we throw wide the windows. It drops to fifty, we shut them, Mom is perfect, we’re all freezing. Perfectly normal.



P.S. Mom says I forgot two.

Treasures

Somethings we buy to treasure. Somethings we get and then learn to love. Often, the ones that start out ordinary turn out to be extraordinary. It’s those small things that become precious. It’s the large ones that are soon forgotten. It’s a friendship started by a few kind words that will last forever. It is those things we take for granted that we miss. It’s those who encourage you, that help you over the finish line.

It’s God, who gave you all those things and people, that will one day call you home.

Mandy

A Few Problems

Sorry that I haven't posted and the post, Hats, was missing for a bit but Blogger has been down and was doing repairs.

Hopefully I can post again tomorrow with no more problems.

Hats

Poems are awesome, as I have said about beans and hats…wait no hats! Scrap the poems I have to speak up for the best part of our wardrobe. (Sorry poems but I’ll get back to you later. Honest!)

Hats. I love hats. I mean if there is someone who thinks they love hats more just let them compete. I wear all sorts, old fashioned to church, helmets to ride on our dragon fly, baskets to ward off anything that might be thinking of stealing my brain (smile), caps to get rid of the sun in my eyes. I mean hats are more than awesome, they are spectacular, amazing, terrific, grand, cool (and I rarely go as far as to say cool), and just plain wonderful. I figured anybody could find a nice hat to wear. I was WRONG!

My great vision was destroyed by the hat murderers! I mean, I have nothing against the British. They make good, clean (sometimes) TV shows. They have cool accents (see I said cool again). They have really neat old manners. And the people are fine. But they have absolutely no taste in hats! I wear a basket and it’s less dreadful. Anyone who watched the news on the Royal wedding can vouch! My lovely hats, ruined! On most other matter the Brits are ok but your hats need some work.

Hats, otherwise, are still AMAZING! Does it matter some of them are strange, such as buckets? No, don’t be ridiculous! As long as they are colorfully awesome they’re great! Does it matter that they are too big? No, of course not. But before you try to become a hat making person, find out what type of hats or you might not only blow a hole in my bubble but pop it! And that would be dreadful!

God's Path

I’ve spent time telling you what I think, what I do and what I want to do. Have you listened? When you read my blog you smile and laugh. You get to see things my way for a moment. Do you like knowing what I want?

What about what God wants? Have you spent time reading His blog? So, now you are saying: This is beginning to sound like I’m being preached to. Do you honestly think I can preach to you? I’m thirteen, will be fourteen in a few weeks. I don’t know that much, I am still in school, and right now I don’t even know where God is leading me. Do you really think I can?

Moses said that God couldn’t use him. He wasn’t good enough, he could talk like others, he wasn’t the right guy. Did God use him?

We don’t pick if God uses us. God created the universe. Do you think He can’t use someone like you, like me? I am nothing special and I would be nothing at all if God didn’t see fit to save me. I could travel the world and without God I wouldn’t get through to anyone. What if I don’t want to travel the world and tell people but God does? Well, I have a feeling I won’t win the argument.

We are God’s people and He loves us. He loves us and will care for us no matter what road He sends us down.

So, am I preaching to you? No. I’m just telling you what I think and what Go gave me the talent to think. That is what you are here to listen to, isn’t it? The talent, the stories, the articles God gave me the power to create, for Him.

No matter where we are, He will use us. No matter how we resist, if He wants us as His, we will come. No matter what the talent, it’s a gift from God. No matter how badly broken a heart, God can fix it. No matter what the loss, no matter how small the person, God is God, and He will show us what to do, where ever we are.

There is one more thing I need to tell you. We have roads of our own that we like best. We have plans that we want to fulfill. But God’s road is the road where we will be the happiest. Even if it’s hard to let go of our own. We must see that. God is leading us the right way, don’t turn off.

Mandy

Mother's Day Events

So what did you all do for Mother’s Day? (No, honestly, I’m asking. Leave a comment. I like them!) Probably the normal, easy thing, right? Sit back, relax, watch TV. Maybe go out to a nice restraint. Whatever your mother wants.

Now I have a confession, I am writing this before 9:00am Mother’s Day. So, I don’t know what we’re going to do.

Do you know what my mom wants to do? Nope, you’re wrong. She doesn’t want to watch TV or go to town. She wants to put up a gazebo our neighbor gave us. All of you who know my mom are smiling and nodded. All of you who don’t have your mouths hanging open, are shaking your heads and thinking she’s crazy. No, she isn’t crazy but she is an over-achiever. One of the best over-achievers I know, I might add.

Will we be able to talk Mom out of this? There is a twenty percent chance. This is Mother’s Day. Do we do everything our mother’s say on this holiday? Probably but we will do our best to convince her that she needs to rest (and therefore give us a break, not that we need one). Will this work? In the next paragraph I’ll tell you but really that won’t be written (because I’ve still got to do it) until tomorrow. So, Mandy signing out. Until you scroll down, that is.

Here I am, just as I promised. One paragraph and one day later. That’s the nice thing about stories, you don’t have to wonder what happens because it will tell you immediately.

Did we put the gazebo up? No, we didn’t. Did we expertly sweet talk mother out of it? No, of course not. Who do you think we are? I don’t think anyone can talk my mother out of anything (except God). So, you ask, what did happen?

She forgot.

Am I saying she has a bad memory? No. I wouldn’t do such a thing. My mom has a brilliant memory but she had more pressing things on her mind. What more pressing things? Hold on ten seconds and I’ll tell you. Our neighbor’s dog. You go, huh? I know, it sounds strange but we were watching the dog and Mom takes this type of thing very seriously. So, she forgot all about the gazebo. For now. Tomorrow or the next day we’ll probably end up doing it but for now, we’ve escaped.

For My Mom

I know, you're all going,"Three none-laugh-out-loud type articles in a row?" But you'll simply have to deal with this one because it's Mother's Day and this is a very serious matter! Honest!

Mother's Day comes once every year, in case you have forgotten, and it is the day where we tell our moms how important they are, just in case you forgot the point. So here I am, writting this for my mom.

You taught me to smile, to laugh, to write. You taught me what is truely important and what just seems to be. You showed me God's love and discipline. You taught me to show love to those who need it and not to hold grudges long. You taught me and I can only hope that I learned to be just like you.

On any other day of the year this might make you cry but today you're just expecting it. This is the day were every mom is waiting for all this poetry, this tribute, this sudden show of love. After today we will go back to our jobs and lives but today we're saying, We love you.

It's not only because it's the thing to do. It's not just because there is a holiday and it would be wrong to dismiss it. This holiday was made for this purpose by people who knew how important you are.

So today, even though you are expecting it, I'm saying it from the bottom of my heart, I love you to the farthest star and back! And God does too.

Mandy

P.S. Today is your day off, people can deal with my bad grammer. (Right, mates?)

A Poem

Mountians stretch away so far,
Away into the distance,
Reaching up to touch the stars,
Like a giant, for instance.

God's love is bigger than the mountian,
Larger than the sea,
Stronger than the strongest wind,
Yet, He cares for a speck like me.

Who can say the stars,
Were made just for them?
Oh, but if you only knew,
God made them all for you!

His love is everlasting,
He will never forget to hear,
His grace is sufficent,
For us all, my dear.

Twenty minutes

Twenty minutes is a long time if you are waiting for something. I know, for I have waited for lots of things. Yet, twenty minutes is not long at all if that’s all you have to save someone’s life. Twenty dollars is a lot for a drink but twenty dollars isn’t even a start if that’s all you have to live on.

Twenty buttons on a shirt,
Too much, too much.
Twenty buttons for all your clothes,
Better have a magic touch.

Twenty trees is a massive amount if you cut them down illegally but twenty trees is so little if a forest.

Doesn’t the number twenty seem so long? Sometimes it does. But, what if all you had was twenty minutes to find the truth? To make a decision, trust God or risk judgment? To risk being separated from God forever, for eternity? We would say it was a easy decision but what if until that moment you’d never even heard of him? What about if all you’d ever heard was God made the earth swallow up his enemies? What if, until you were told you had twenty minutes, you’d never heard Jesus died for you? And you have twenty minutes to find out and decide?

How long is twenty minutes then? Don’t wait to find out until all you have is twenty minutes.

Mandy

Popsicles

Popsicles are a necessity. They are lifesavers. No, not the candy, there is no such thing as a lifesaver flavored popsicle. What I mean is, they save our lives. We mow lawns, do gardening and play and we just plain need them. Okay, want them. We eat probably five a day, or more, depending on how many lawns we mow, how much gardening we do, and how many we decide to take to the creek when we go for our once a day swim.

Yet, we have still to learn the fine art of throwing away the plastic tubes they come in. Hopefully, this year we can get that drilled into our heads. Not that it will matter because we’ll still find some from three years ago.

Along with popsicles, iced tea takes a major roll in our summer life. We take our bottles of the stuff everywhere. We make five gallon, ten gallon containers of it and drink it all in two days between the seven of us. If you ever wonder what is in the back of the trailer attacked to our lawn mower that we go everywhere with you can bet there is popsicles and iced tea (and most likely our push mower, weed whacker and other lawn mowing instruments.)

I have often wondered what people think of me when I go by driving a lawnmower pulled trailer, wearing sunglasses, a pink shirt, a big hat, such as I often wear, and salute them as they pass. How should I know but I really don’t care. I like being different and eating popsicles!

Gardening

Time to start planting - according to our mother. What does it matter that it snowed yesterday? We can plant our plants anyway! Sure, it’s rarely above fifty but who are we to argue with Mom? The moon is right, so it’s time to plant!

Today we are going to plant spinach, peas and lettuce. You know all those things that can survive a three foot snow - we hope.

When I was younger I somehow got the job of carrots. How this happened I don’t remember but it did. Rose got peas and Missy - I don’t remember what Missy had but she had something. We’d go out every year into our several sixty by four foot bed garden and Rose would help Mom plant a bunch of peas in nice straight lines and Peter would help dig perfect little holes for tomatoes and Missy would neatly do what ever it was she did. And then there was me. I took the package as Mom told me, carefully ripped it open, or as carefully as ripping gets, and threw the seeds all over the bed! That may have been why I liked carrots. No careful measuring, no digging holes, just scrap the dirt to the edges, throw the seeds around and push the dirt back!

Did I say that was all I did? Well it wasn’t. I was always done before everyone else so I “got” to help plant peas and do tomatoes and we all did potatoes. Dig a trench, put the seed potato in with the eye up and when you’ve finished with both sixty foot beds, push dirt over top. But we didn’t do that until we named a thousand worms and lady bugs and practically every stick that looked like a worm. And then we’d go get a popsicle, one of those tube kinds, and watch Mom limp to the house after stepping on a bee. (She tends to do this a lot).

Anyway, despite the fact we say we hate it, our fondest memories are of gardening. We tend to do one more thing, besides step on bees. We laugh. We laugh practically the whole time, even though we are complaining. We come up with sayings and scenes and characters for my book out in our garden and I know we still will.

Sigh. We do like gardening but it wouldn’t be the same if we didn’t complain for often that is the best part. Along with chucking half the seeds into the row behind you as you say, “If in doubt, throw it out!” so many times it drives Mom crazy.

South Dakotans

I already did a story on Homeschoolers so it’s only fair I do a story on South Dakotans. We are, to put it quite simply, masters at under-stating the obvious. Then again in different circumstances we are masters of over-stating things. I’m not sure why we can’t just say things like they are but I think it started back at the Black Hills gold rush. The first people out here said, “The winters are a bit difficult.” Yeah, right, about half of you died. And they also said, “There is a ton of gold!” No. There wasn’t a lot of gold. So, I figure it’s just in our nature.

We like the word “breezy”. If you ever hear a South Dakotan say that word assume they are lying because it’s not breezy. “Oh, look the wind just blew that car over!” “Yeah, it’s a bit breezy.” That’s us!

Last winter, we went to the grocery store. Most people would take the hint that it’s too cold to drive sixteen miles into town when it’s thirty degrees below zero but our family is home schooled. Stubbornness issues again. Sigh. We drove into town anyway. We got our stuff and went to the check out isle and the lady says, “A bit nippy today.”

“Sure is,” Mom replies.

Down playing and over-stating are just always going to be part of South Dakota, I’m afraid. But then again, if we were normal there wouldn’t be anything special about us. We are, after all, the selected guardians of our national monument, Mount Rushmore. I mean, just think about it, George Washington’s head is 60 feet tall!

There is just one more thing I wish to say about South Dakotans. We are also stubborn and I hope we always stay that way. One example of this is when a man rode on bike all the way from South Dakota to Washington D.C. to be at a rally for black’s civil rights back on April 28, 1963. Stubborness issues? You betcha!

A List

There are several classically rude things one can do. I’m not saying I don’t do these things, of course I do. Classically rude is not so rude that it makes you angry in the least. They are simply things we do, note the we, all the time to each other and usually laugh about. (I have never done any of these involving the pineapple.)

1. Steal someone’s place in the line for the microwave.
2. Take the cat. (Maybe not as many smiles, maybe.)
3. Not let someone know there is pineapple until five pieces are gone.
4. Put fresh pineapple on a pizza (waste of pineapple.) Canned is fine.
5. Ignore someone well they’re attempting to read you a funny part in their book, even if most likely it will leave you confused.
6. Say you don’t like anything involving pineapple. (Quite rude, you know.)
7. Forget a wonderful saying you made up for my book before I’ve written it down.
8. Leave me a message on how great my book is but put it in cryptic writing that you can’t just change the writing with the handy dandy computer so I have to undo it by hand.

Of course, there are several others but I won’t go on or it’ll take all day and I’d rather not think that hard. But, I thought everyone should know about pineapple and cats and,…and…pineapple!

God's Gifts

Some people say dreams are just hopes. I say they’re wrong. Your dreams are who you are. My dream is to be a writer. God gave me this talent to use but without him it would not be worth using. I write to show people there is light beyond their darkness. I write to make hope. I write to inspire. I write because in doing so I feel close to my Savior.

Many people may say I’m too young but God gave me this talent now and who are we to say otherwise? Some might wonder if I have what it takes to get through the whole process, writing it, correcting it and probably getting refused by a few publishers. Here’s the truth, I don’t. But God does.

He gave me many things, many talents and many Bible verses to use but there is one gift I would take nothing to give back. He gave me Jesus who cared so much that He died. And that’s not all. He loved me enough to give me friends. Friends that care about me no matter how I act or what I do. He gave me a home to go to when my life is over. I don’t need a mansion but that‘s what He is preparing anyway.

And one day, I hope He’ll give me the one thing I want when I get to Heaven. A hug. I want to know I’m safe at last. That’s the one gift that I still want. Who wants a crown? Not me. Who wants acres of land? Not me. Who cares about being rich? No, not me. I just want a hug from Jesus.

If God has plans for me, then show me where to start. I don’t need the courage it’ll take because He has all I need. I don’t need tons of money, He’ll provide.

I’m not perfect. I know I’ll be scared but I also know He cares enough that He’ll give me comfort. If I’m in need, I’ll ask Him because he says, “Therefore take no thought saying, what shall we eat? Or, what shall we drink? Or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek: ) for your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.” - Matthew 6:31-32.

Have faith.

Mandy.