Reflections on 'o8

New years eve is approaching fast... it really seems as though this past year went by much too quickly. Last year's new years eve party doesn't seem too far away... before I knew it, it was spring. Finishing up school, working the busy season at the greenhouse... Spring then whizzed on to summer. Summer was great. At the beginning early June we went to the cottage with Lemstra's. Thats always great fun! (except when Derek scared me so bad I honestly thought I was going to die -even if it was only for a split second- I thought he was a bear (it was dark... dont blame me :-P) I worked two days a week at the greenhouse, and two days at the Library a week. There were some really good times at the greenhouse... working with Marissa and Kelsey was actually pretty fun. Unless of course there were those days that never seemed to end. The songs that played on the radio were usually ones that we were sick of.. then there was that time when that song played when we were all tired and the clock wasn't moving (honestly... time was standing still!) The lyrics were "Time goes by... so slowly" and then it repeated itself over and over again. On one of the hottest days too, they had to torture us with playing a Christmas song. Then the bell rang for break and we all ran to the lake and had enough time for a dip before break was over. (The lake was awesome! We always jumped in on the hot days...)
The end of summer came way too fast. But, I was happy when it was nearing its end because thats when Tamarack was! I had so much fun there this past year! The speakers were awesome, I loved the discussions (in the cabins, after the seminars) It was great meeting all new people! I took home so many new friends. I loved volleyball! What can I say? Its an awesome sport! Oh, and soccer... and I liked hockey too. Basketball though?? I'm not saying its because we lost... but its not the greatest sport :-P. Ok, maybe I am saying that because we lost.. but still, it taught us "humbleness" lol.
The Sunday right after tamarack was the 31'st of August... does that day mean anything to you? Well, that was the day I turned 16! (and no, I still haven't gone for my beginner's yet... ) Fall came, and with it school, evening library shifts, jujitsu, skating, guitar lessons, kingdom seekers (of which I'm a jr councilor), and also hymnsings... (of which I miss alot!!)
Fall turned into Winter... not really so fast seeing as we didn't get snow. We didn't get anything that stayed before last week's storm really. Soon enough though, without the snow, the Christmas music began, the shopping started, and the fancy dinners came. I was now allowed to sing my favorite Christmas songs without being out of season (YAY!) And since my guitar teacher taught me a whole bunch of Christmas songs I was able to play along with them! :-)

This past year I've changed alot. I find that I've grown spiritually alot more, I've made new friends, found out who really matters, done things I've never tried before, and heard many things that have changed me (in ways of seminar's and great things from speakers.) I've started guitar, which is one of the things I'd never tried before. I find that I really like it! Another thing that I tried and found out I liked was writing free verse and poetry which I hope you all like as much as I like writing it! :-)

I'm really looking forward to 2009 and all the new things that will be happening for me then! Lord willing in 2009 I'll be taking my profession of faith before the congregation of Trinity ORC, I'll be starting grade 12 (my last year of school!) I'll turn 17. Hopefully I'll become better at guitar and my writing. I'm looking forward to everything that God has in His plans for me.

So what is your highlights of 2008? How has God been good to you this past year? And what are you looking forward to in the coming year? :-)

The Unknown Future....

Staring at my reflection
I wonder
who am I?
What am I meant to do?
Where am I going?
Those eyes stare back at me
through the mirror.
That face which is my own
is searching for something.
Was I meant for more?
How can I live an average life
when I feel like I was meant
meant for something more
for something bigger.
Who am I?
I want to live and die
for bigger things.
I want to live for more than just me.
Where am I going?
Which path is the one for me?
How am I to travel on it?
Who will be there for me,
and who won't?
Am I to go alone,
is my path a lonely one?
There's so many ways.
I need help knowing
which way was chosen for me.
Those blue eyes looking back at me.
That young face which is my own.
The life I am to lead
is not for me,
but for God alone.


I hope you like my short free verse that was from the top of my head... Its always a mystery to us what God's plan for us is. Sometimes it can be really confusing as to what we will do, who we will be, and what life we'll lead in the future. At least I have the comfort of knowing that everything is in God's hands, and that he has a plan for me. :-)

For those that have tried to post comments before, but couldn't, I figured out that I had to change a setting so that anonymous people can comment. So now if you haven't fed my blog some comment love before, feel free to do so now. :-)
I wish I was able to post more... but sometimes its hard to have passable things from the top of my head daily.

Merry Christmas!

Angel/Guitar

So, I decided that I'm not going to post daily. Partly because its hard to keep up... but mostly because its hard to write something good that often. And as you can see, some of my earlier posts were definitely only posted because of lack of time and better work. Its somewhat hard to be inspired with anything other than the snow, the coldness, and Christmas at this time of year. And I don't want to have like a bajillion posts on those three things.

I thought I'd try to take a few photo's with my brother's camera... since I don't have many pictures on my blog I'll post one or two of them...

So thats my attempt at photography... I'm sure I got most of it wrong, but... I kinda like them. I don't think I'd ever go anywhere with photography, so it doesn't really matter ;-)

Snowed In

So the snow has been piling up... and blowing around... and its days like today and yesterday that you don't want to be out and about driving anywhere! Which also meant that no one could make it to this area, and the christmas program I had been looking forward to had been canceled. Christmas time there are so many plans, and so many times that they're canceled. It just goes to show us that it doesn't matter how much we plan and get ready for something, God is in control.
I did still have a good day though, being hunkered down in the house baking, reading, watching Christmas movies and doing a 1000 piece puzzle with my dad.

Swirling snow
whistling winds
all around the house.
Roads impossible
to drive in.
Driveways deepen
making work for those bundled inside
The winds beat on
the snow still falls
and inside, I'm warm and cozy.

Butter, sugar
flour, eggs.
Chocolate chips...
yum, maybe just one
or two.
Stirring
mixing into cookie batter.
Oven heating
cookies baking.
Sweet smells of cookies
when they're done.
And yet... I'm too full
from the batter
to eat any.
Until later.

Curling up
under blankets.
Cozy warmth
as I'm reading.
Flipping through the pages
silently.
Stillness around me
quiet serenity.
The wind can be heard
only dully
in the background.

I felt bad because I haven't posted since Wednesday... so I wrote three... although they're all in the same context of being snowed in. Hope you like them... they're all off the top of my head which I think is the only way to write them. lol. Anyways, I'm off to get ready for the Bakker Christmas dinner with all my cousins and relatives. :-)

The fool says in his heart "There is no God."

All I can say is that a man who in his heart denies God, and yet can see before him God's creation.. that man is truly a fool like the bible says.

Spring

Ok, so I realized I didn't even mention the t-shirt run in my boarding post! Well... it was cold. And if you're a beginner boarder like me, it also involves falling into the cold wet snow, and being painfully slow going down the slopes. So, if you want to know how cold it was, scroll down to friday's post that's titled "Cold". lol, and maybe change it from night, to day, from bare hands poking out of a warm coat to bare arms in only a t-shirt.
To change it up a bit, I want to write something a little bit warmer... lets fast forward to spring for a little while...

Slightly chilly breezes,
warm rays from the sun
on my skin
making me feel alive.
The freshness of the earth
is invigorating.
Small green shoots
poking out of the soggy soil
making their attempts to reach the sun
the warmth
the energy.
The heavens are blue,
the birds are singing
my heart feels joy
to be alive.
I see God's hand
in everything alive
in everything beautiful.
I see the mighty works
of His goodness
and I sing for the joy
that He gives me
in my heart.

Music - By Chandler Violette

This is an awesome verse that one of my friends wrote. I love it alot! (Thanks Chan for letting me post this!)

Drifting out of apartment windows,
Filling the air with its sweet melody.
Flowing from instruments,
Spilling from voices,
Stopping the thoughts that torment.
The mind -
Suddenly at ease,
Muscles relaxing,
Just listening to the beat of drums,
The chords the guitar strums,
Echoing the voices,
Singing the words you don’t dare speak,
Not out loud.
Not to anyone.
So much feeling resounds,
From each and every song,
Blaring from earphones,
Blasting through speakers,
Conveying emotion unspoken,
Love,
Anger,
Heartbreak,
Each it’s own,
Showing others they aren’t alone,
Connecting with the music,
Hitting the repeat button,
Over,
And over,
Just to here it once more,
This gift from God:
Music.

Downhill... Boarding

I'm gonna start off by saying that yesturday was AWESOME! I had alot of fun :-). At the beginning of the day I reeeally sucked... but then, something clicked, and then I had alot more fun because I got it. Ok, I fell alot, but not as much, and I had a bunch of straight runs without falling. Ok, I'm not sure where to start this... but I'll just start typing and see where it ends up.

I was at the top of the snow covered hill, below me where scattered skiers and boardings making their way down, some more slowly than others. I let myself start down the hill, slowly at first, but then I started to gain some speed... if you could call it that. The cold wind blew all around me as I fought for control of the board. A few wisps of my hair escaped the confines of my loose ponytail and blew into my face. Just when I thought I had control of the board, I unexpectedly fell. My head banged the ground hard, and my board spun around taking my body with it. Only feeling a bit sore, I got right back up on my board and tried to make my way to the bottom of the hill again.
I fell a few more times before I finally made it to the lift. I was really excited to see one of my best friends there.
I tried again, on a different hill and made it down most of the way, then I saw my brother on the ground a little ways ahead of me. For a little while I wasn't concentrating on what I was doing, and the edge of my board had caught on the snow. I flew forward, my arms extended, I slid on my stomach for a few seconds before I finally stopped. I looked over to my brother to see him laughing at me and heard him say something along the lines of "superman flip out". I rolled over onto my back and sat up. Snow found its way to the back of my neck and was slowly melting down my back. I cringed as it dripped leaving me chilled.
Soon enough I was back at the top of the hill. So far I loved boarding... but it hadn't quite clicked yet. There she was, my friend beside me showing me something on her board, I tried to do what she did, but ended up face planting instead. I got up, and went down the hill for a bit and tried it again... still, it didn't quite click. After a few more runs, and my friend teaching me and giving me help, I did it! Finally, but then, my joy was cut short as I fell forward. Once again, it didn't hurt enough for me to stop, so I got back on my board, and tried again.
After that, it was almost like something clicked. I went down various other hills with some friends and practiced, and I actually didn't fall about half of those runs!
It was getting close to the closing time, and only one hill was open, I tried to get on that hill as many times as possible before we were unable to anymore.
The crisp fresh air felt good in my lungs and the board felt almost comfortable. I had a small amount of speed (and yet probably the most I had that day) and the wind in my face felt good. I fell down once that run, but I was back up almost before I even fell.
I had loved that day, but, at the end of the day I was tired, sore, and ready for it to be over... almost.

A Big Brother's Love

A brothers love
is big bear hugs,
a protective arm
on my shoulder
a constant shelter
in tough times.
And older brother
is strong,
for you.
He is worthy of trust,
of love.
Big brother watching
like my conscience
but bigger.
I love to be around him,
I want to show him
that I trust him
and love him.
My big brother.


Ok, so I promised to post something every day... and since its past ten, and I had nothing, I went to my notebook and found this inside! So I'm glad I have something to post(even if its somewhat poorly written... as in I don't feel like I said everything that needed to be said about big brother's and I don't feel it was written well enough. Lets hope Jeff doesn't read it, lol.)
I'm SO excited about tomorrow!
And thats all I'm going to say for now... g'night, and you'll hear from me tomorrow! :-)

Unboxed

So I'm trying to publish one post a day... lets hope I can actually do that... I'll try to brainstorm enough.
I'm trying out different templates... I kinda thought the other one was somewhat boring. This one's kind of cool. Lets see how long this one stays until I decide I want a new one, lol.
I'm SO excited for Monday :-). Snowboarding is going to be awesome! (Or at least I hope... lol) I'm pretty sure I'll like it! I know I'll be falling almost the whole time... but maybe towards the end of the day I'll be able to stay up for a bit. Like I promised earlier when I wrote a small bit on skiing, I'm going to write something about boarding. Maybe I'll have the energy to write it on the way home monday and then post it that same day (or the next day).
Hm... so I'm not totally sure what to write about, so I'm going to write one on not being boxed in. Its my current title for my blog. (Who knows, I might change it sometime...) It might not be the greatest since like most of my other posts its off the top off my head. Anyways... so I'll try to do my best, hope you like it!

Thoughts
ideas
views
can't be hidden inside
if its something to fight for.
How can you feel passionate about something
then hide it?
How can you box it in
if its important?
If you have the Good News
how can you not tell others?
How can you not act
like you have it
in your heart?
Be open.
Don't box it in.
Unboxed.

Heaven

I was just trying to write a verse on heaven, and all God's angel's and hosts in them. For once not much came to mind... I honestly can hardly imagine it. I read through revelations and what is described in there is mind boggling. The most common view of heaven is that its going to be all pure angels singing in one big white choir with gold instruments and heavenly melodies. It might not all be white, but the bible tells us how we will be praising Christ for an eternity. Wow... imagine what it will be like? The Christmas story of when God's heavenly hosts come to the shepherds... imagine how great and terrible they seemed. God's hosts, saying in all loud voices "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace on men to whom His favor rests"
I love the song "By the Sea of Crystal". Whenever we sing it at church, I always think of heaven, and all the angels and saints in heaven.
Its going to take alot of thought and work to write a passable verse on heaven. Maybe one day I'll be able to write something. But I don't think I'd ever be able to describe God's majesty and His kingdom on paper...

Cold

Instant cold
tingling on my face
the bare skin on my hands
I can feel them start to numb
My breath comes out in small clouds
The night air seems so clear
I can sharpness of it
is almost tangible.
An icy grip
is grabbing at me
My bones start to become chilled
straight through me.
I look up to the heavens on this clear night
to see the moon bright and pale.
Even the moon looks cold.
This cold winter's night
is so beautiful.
But devastatingly so.

The true meaning of Christmas
isn't in fireside stories,
gifts received and given
of a jolly man from the north pole
giving gifts to those who are good
and none to those who aren't
Christmas isn't parties of fancy dinners
of turkey and chocolate desserts
seeing friends is sure a plus,
but is that the meaning?

Isn't Christmas about Christ?
Being born in the stable of an inn,
when no doors were open for Him.
Christmas is about the shepherds who came
and bowed down with awe
Its about the One the wise men gave the gifts to
gold, frankincense, myrrh.
Christmas is for the one who the angels glorified.
The heavenly host of God saying
"Glory to God in the highest
and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests."

The true amazing love
of being in the humbled state of man.
Jesus is the meaning of Christmas.

I posted this for lack of anything else to post, and because I feel bad that I haven't posted anything in a while. Its just a little something I typed up on the computer just now. I hope I wrote it well enough. I kinda like it.

Colossians 3:12-17

Therefor, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long suffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thats to God the Father through Him.

What is Love?

What is love?
An old man
and a young boy.
A smile lights the old mans face
the boys face is tilted upwards
adoration
trust
love.
A girl is standing there.
All alone
she's scared,
its dark all around her.
Her brother steps towards her
he puts his arm around her.
A brother and sister.
Love.
A mother and child.
Her face is serene and glowing
a newborn child lays in her arms
asleep and quiet.
She smiles at the small perfect fingers
the wonderfully formed face
every detail
brings joy to this mothers eyes.
A small child,
kneeling by her bedside.
Her hands are folded
her eyes are closed
her face tilted upwards.
She gives her unfailing childlike faith to Christ
She doesn't ask why,
she follows his lead
with her trust.
A man and his bride.
Standing face to face
hand in hand
saying I do.
Forever and always
I want you by my side.
Her face could light up the church
And his smile the world.
Is that true love?

There is no greater love
than the love Christ gave to us.
He sent his Son to die
to call us His own.
We are unworthy,
But Christ is full of mercy and love.
Love that surpasses all else.

Elephant masks

So, this is for a friend. :-) I'm making it up as I go... because I don't have much time and I promised this poem for her...

Of elephant masks
and counselor tasks.
I girl you alot
though some people do not.
Of honeydew melon
and strawberry n cranberry smellin
Cabin overnights
with jellybean fights
of hide and seek
and not sleeping for a week

I've been writing alot more free verse and poems lately... Some of them I've been posting here on my blog. But I'm starting to like writing them alot more. I wonder where all my writing will take me in the future. I thought for sure I would be writing stories, since I love them and all, but now I'm leaning towards verse.

I was just talking to someone. I asked for idea's for a verse, he said about how scary it would be to fall away from Jesus. I just wrote something not too long ago about a world without Christ. Maybe I'll be able to write something new with a somewhat similar theme.

I have joy.
My heart feels peace.
I rest my worries,
into Christ's care.
I might not be rich,
with money.
Or I might not have good health,
physically,
but I am rich
with grace
I have health
in my spirit
and Christ is there
for me.

Now take it away.
pretend I've fallen
If I'm not wealthy,
If I'm not healthy
I have nothing.
No reason to live,
yes scared.
Scared of death,
of the unknown
without the all knowing Jesus
my Savior.

Dreams

Its dark,
I cannot see.
There is no light
I turn and everything has changed.
Am I me?
Or a bystander?
I try to run
My feet feel like lead
closer and closer...
slower and heavier
I can not move
I can't escape.

I bolt up.
Cold sweat on my brow
It was only a dream,
so I close my eyes again...

Try to imagine
a world without our Lord
dark
desolate
empty.
How can they live?
What is the point in life if none in Christ?
They have their twisted little worlds
in their dark hopeless minds.
Have they no hope?
Without You-
none.
You're a light
in this world.
You bring meaning
in my life.
A life with You
a life of joy and peace.

Fairy Tales...

Enchanted frogs
golden maidens
fierce dragons
knights in shining armor
to rescue me
chivalry
secretive glades of pastures green
fairies dancing
flying
laughing
glittering
spiraling up
shooting stars

Snow

Downward drifting
gently sifting
pure white flakes
cold and crisp
soft and brisk
this snow makes;
glittering castles
wonderland tassels
ice and snow
forever falling
gently calling

I hope you like my first pitiful attempt at poetry and free verse. I don't think I'd be able to ever compare my best with heidi's worst (if she has any)

Downhill

Just to let you all know, this isn't about boarding, because... I've never been boarding before. BUT, it is about blading, which is super cool too. I'm sure I'll be able to write another one after my first time boarding... except probably alot slower, lol. Just to let you know, I haven't edited anything on it yet, because I'm basically really bored right now, so its another quickly write and post thing. Which is what this blog consists of... so if it sucks, then... its because I didn't get too much time to write it, and its late ;-)

The icy cold wind sent my hair streaming behind me. The sleek white snow beneath my snow blades sent me speeding down the steep hill. The exhilaration of the feeling made my heart beat faster. I slowed down for a moment and took in a deep breath of the fresh crisp air around me. The tree's all around me glittered in the sunlight as the snow and ice reflected off of their bare branches. I felt as though I was in a winter wonderland. A skier came down the trail behind me silently, and me after having slowed down, watched as he whizzed past. I smiled slowly and put my blades straight again and sped down the hill once more. My fingers were half frozen, my face almost numb, and I was sore from numerous falls, but none of that mattered when I felt the wind and sun in my face and the adrenaline in my veins.

Amnesia

There I was. I was staring at myself in the mirror... trying to recognize the reflection that stared back at me. Her midnight black hair shimmered in the short shoulder length that it fell to. My icy blue eyes searched for something, anything. I remembered nothing. My complexion was flawless and light. My dainty nose held no freckle or blemish, but only pale skin, like the rest of me. My slightly arching eyebrows suited my petite, mature face. If I had to guess at the age of the reflection before me, I might have guessed 17 or 18.
I propped myself up on the dingy sink and let my head drop from the questioningly gaze from my image in the mirror. One stray thought kept on coming into my head, over and over. Who am I?
I stood back up straight, and without looking back to the cracked mirror, I turned around and sat in the corner of the small bathroom. I hugged my knee's to my chest and sat there, staring. The off-white tiles in my line of vision had smudges of dirt and residue on them, the corners between the poorly tiled walls and the linoleum flooring had dust, dirt, and who knows what else in them.
I had no idea why I was here, what I was doing, and most importantly, who I was.

Please excuse this. It had to come out... bad thing for me (and those who read it) That its coming out at the end of day... past the time I usually go to bed... when I write my worst. Maybe one day I'll edit it. But for now, this is what you get ;-)
I'm off to sleep, and my dreams. G'night!

Sunshine and darkness.

There they were, they were almost identical, but both of them also could not be more different. There they stood face to face. One was blonde, her natural light hair shimmered in the light of the sun, her blue eyes held hope, promise, and love. Her smile went past her thin lips, past her lightly freckled cheeks, and radiated from even her eyes. Her figure was slight, and petite.
Across from her stood her twin, dark and shadowed. She reflected her sister like a sick reflection of a mirror. Her hair was dry and obviously dyed. It gleamed a dull black, her lifeless blue eyes had dark shadows beneath them as she sneered at her joyful sister. Her pale face looked shallow and starved. Her frame was slighter, thinner, more petite than that of her sister. She looked unhealthy, almost too frail to be able to stand. Her black ragged clothing made her look worse.
How did it get that way? One so full of life, another, so hopeless. The first made a decision. She gave her life to God. The second... she gave her life to the evil lusts of the world. She chose to be what the world wanted, and the world rejected her.

Ok, that was somewhat pitiful. But, for lack of anything to write, I started rambling on what nonsense was in my head. By the way, none of it was edited. I decided since not many people read my blog, I might as well not bother editing. Its supposed to be a good exercise in writing.. or so they say.
Anyways, cheers and g'night all my adoring fans! (which amount to... one or two people? lol)

Quotes

Here are some quotes that I like about sisters...

Having a sister is like having a best friend you can't get rid of. You know whatever you do, they'll still be there. ~Amy Li

A sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost. ~Marion C. Garretty

If you don't understand how a woman could both love her sister dearly and want to wring her neck at the same time, then you were probably an only child. ~Linda Sunshine

You can kid the world. But not your sister. ~Charlotte Gray

A sister can be seen as someone who is both ourselves and very much not ourselves - a special kind of double. ~Toni Morrison

If your sister is in a tearing hurry to go out and cannot catch your eye, she's wearing your best sweater. ~Pam Brown

lol, all of these quotes are true... especially that last one. Ok, so what if I'm the one who is wearing the sweater... lol.
Here are some friendship quotes. I dedicate them to my best friends (you girls know who you are!)

A friend is one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the best things you can be. ~Douglas Pagels

Friendship isn't a big thing - it's a million little things. ~Author Unknown

You can always tell a real friend: when you've made a fool of yourself she doesn't feel you've done a permanent job. ~Laurence J. Peter

Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art.... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival. ~C.S. Lewis

A friend is a person with whom I may be sincere. Before him, I may think aloud. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Friendship is born at the moment when one person says to another "What! You too? I thought that of no one but myself.” ~C.S. Lewis

Hope you guys like these... I know I do. :-)

Music - By Heidi Luimes

This is a poem Heidi wrote. I LOVE it! Without music, life would be flat.

A string
gently plucked
hammered in a whirl
of thunder
painting pictures
with horsehair
and a thousand tiny vibrations
voices
from a realm
known only by our souls
and the Creator
calling
screaming
whispering
to those who listen.

Kailei

I'm starting to write another short (or many longer) story. I have more that I've already worked on, but here's the first couple paragraphs. Its probably going to be changed and edited alot before the end, so here's the roughest draft of the beginning (I know Heidi wants to read the final draft of this story and another I'm working on :-) )


The two of us lay there staring at the sky. Two sisters who could not be more different. She was fourteen, I was five. The elder girl lay on the soft grass with her hands behind her head. Her eyelids drooped over her bright blue eyes, and her golden hair that shone in the sunlight was fanned all about her. She looked to be tall, and slenderly built. She looked carefree and happy. As though she had no worries in the world.
"Doesn't that one look like a bird?" She looked at me and pointed to some clouds which did look like a bird. I continued staring at the sky without speaking. Out of the two of us, I was the more silent one. "My little silent shadow," is what Aideen had sometimes called me with a smile brightening her face.
The slow ever changing clouds whirled in white shapes and forms above me with the sky blue behind them. I lay there in silent serenity as my sister got up and wandered aimlessly through the field in search of flowers.
The grass was soft beneath my slight figure, and the sun was warm on my clear light skin. The wind blew my dark loose curls around my face as the tree's in the near distance whispered their sweet secrets to one another. A brown bird darted through my view of the sky and captured my attention. The small brown creature darted into the first tree on the edge of the forest and joined in its small chirps with the countless other birds of the forest.
I looked up and saw my sister with a small bunch of lilies walking towards me. "Come now, we should be heading back dear one." She gave me a warm smile as her dainty hand closed around my small childish one.
"Why don't we walk through the forest Deeny?" Aideen looked down at me mildly surprised that I had spoken.
"We have our reasons, little one. Why should you wish to walk through there anyways?" A silence stretched out as I looked up through my small dark eyes to her bright blue ones.
I whispered so that Aideen could not hear me, "Because the tree's feel like home."

Random Thoughts

Its not really late at night, but late enough that I'm not really tired, and have alot of thoughts going through my head with nothing much to do.
Tonight I helped out at our church's girls club, usually I'm in the class with my grade six girls. Its somewhat hard for me because I want to add to the discussion, but I don't know what questions to ask the girls without being too simple, or too hard for them. I sometimes know the answers, but its a different thing altogether asking the questions.
This evening though I was the only jr councellor that showed up, we usually have four of us, one for each group. So this evening I did the tasks for all four groups, so I didn't have a chance to be with my group for the bible study.

Hmm, this time of night my thoughts are usually the craziest. I don't know if I'm the only one, but sometimes I have this reeeally random thought in my head, then it changes, and then it changes some more, and before I know it there's a whole story in my head trying to get out. Most of the time I can't let it get out on paper.. too bad.
Sometimes its really weird, but I'd be thinking of something to do with a trampoline, and before you know it I have this whole science fiction story in my head. (its weird, because that is what happened before... and I'm not even a fan of science fiction)

My brother is still out in Alberta. I miss him tons! On Sunday I talked to him and he said that he might be back in maybe one to two weeks, then I just talked to him tonight and he said about a month... :-(
I miss him lots! But, he's doing good up there, and getting lots of good work done.

Comments

Hey everyone!
It'd be great to get some feedback on some of my posts so I know what you all think of it so far!
(I haven't gotten a single comment yet!) So feel free to comment however you want to on any of my posts!

Cottage Life

I wrote this one evening during our stay at Limberlost Point (In early June) I kinda liked it, maybe you guys will too...

The breeze tugs at my short brown hair as I bask in a burning hot sun. Gently, the waves lap against the side of the raft. Up, down, up, down the rhythm gently lulls my mind into a lazy daze. My once wet skin is rapidly drying, and the towel beneath me becomes damp.
Voices in the distance slowly bring me out of my peaceful daze. I look up from the spot where I lay to se a man and a boy climbing into a small motor boat. Small wisps of my hair screen my vision.
The wind dies down a bit as I lay my head back down to the towel and once again return to my idle thoughts and sleepy state of mind.

Its not very good, but I was bored when I wrote it. I still have my journal from the cottage, and I have many more random paragraphs, but this time not about me and my lazy vacation afternoon.

1 Corinthians - Love

This is one of my favorite chapters. Me and Megan were talking about it on the last night at tamarack (and some other verses such as 1 Peter 3:2-4)

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal, If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophecy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part' then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Starting New...

The old blog site I had didn't work for some odd reason. I had a hotmail account for the username and it wouldn't accept that when I tried to log in with either of my accounts (hotmail or gmail)
So now I'll have to start over, no big deal though, since I only had a couple of posts that I easily could copy and paste.

The Stone Figure

This is a story that I sent into an adult short story contest, I tied for second place. The funny thing about it though was I was able to send up to three entries, so I sent another one before this. The other one had so much thought and time put into it, and this one I wrote in an hour (starting from scratch, to sending it in, in one hour) and this was the one that I got a placing with.

The Stone Figure

Deirdre

The pain seared through my whole body as I was rooted to the spot. Every part of me screamed to run away, to hide from her, but I couldn't move. The agony seeped into every corner of my body and my mind screamed silent pleas.

It had been too many years to count since the enchantment fell on me. I still remembered that day as though it had happened yesterday. I could almost still feel the searing pain race through my veins when memory of it came. But, of coarse I no longer had veins.

I was stone.

I held the same position while seasons came and went for many years. Deep in the forest I sat, always watching, always waiting. My deep brown hair, long and wild, my pale beautiful skin, my curious brown eyes, and even my long flowing skirt was now stone.

All on me was stone, all but the red scarf around my neck.

I could not turn to look at it, no, but others have. Sometimes a young girl or boy would wander into the small clearing and stare at me with wonder. None of them knew me I suppose, for it had been many years that I'd been here. Most of them just walked up and looked at my shoulders at the strange scarf. Some of them would try to pull on it to take it, but it wouldn't move. And the curious thing was though, whenever one tried to take it, a crow would come and chase them off. This crow seemed to be a guardian of sorts.

I knew the scarf held the clue to releasing me, for I had never owned a red scarf in my life. The biggest mystery was not how it came to be there, but why none could lift it.

None could, till he came along.

Tomas

“Tomas, get your nose out of that book of yours and come help me.” My older brother Rowan startled me. I looked up at him from my spot at the base of the tree.

“What do you want now Rowan?” I asked with a small sigh. Because he was older, I always seemed to have to be his shadow helping him all the time. I didn't mind most of the time though. Being as shy and hesitant as I was I could not do much without him.

“We are supposed to start on the wood pile. Its not going to be long before we will be needing it.” He walked towards me and handed me an ax. Without another word I followed him into the woods.

The tree's near our cottage produced wood that burnt too fast. This was now to be our second winter away from court, and we wouldn't make the same mistake again.

We went further into the forest looking for good wood. It wasn't long until we came to a grove of strong solid trees.

We then started to work on the hard task of chopping down some these large trees.

“Put your back into it Tomas!” Rowan said angrily. Then he mumbled, “I bet your mind is off into one of those books of yours. The boy more than likely would not know an ax from a tree if his precious books did not tell him.”

His words stung, but as usual, I tried to ignored them. I wasn't as strong as he was, so it stood to reason that I could not do as much as him.

Today though, I felt a bit of anger well up in me, but not enough to do something. I just mumbled under my breath about how I, at least was not a simpleton and could read.

“What was that?” Rowan peered at me questioningly

“Nothing.” I had to let it go. There was nothing I could do but continue to ignore his hurtful comments. “I am going to take a break for a little while. I will come back soon.”

Without waiting to hear his reply, I turned on my heels and walked quickly towards what seemed to be a clearing.

My father, mother, and even my older brother always were disappointed in me for not being what they had wanted me to be. I was always expected to be either a fighter or a farmer. My father was once a knight of the king, but after many years of faithful service, and a newly made wound to his knee, the king granted him a small lot of land in which to farm with his sons. My eldest brother was not Rowan, no,there was another older yet than him. My eldest brother was now away taking up the place of his father as a knight. Rowan was always more a settled one though, so he chose to take up farming his fathers lands. My grandfather was also a farmer, and my parents found no shame in the hard labor of the large task of farming lands.

I was different though, I had not shown qualities of either.

Life back in court held many opportunities to read, write, and learn from scribes and learned men. There were libraries filled with stacks of books in which to learn more from.

My favorite books to read always had something to do with history of these lands, or the legends of the former people who dwelt in them.

I continued on, not being far from where my brother was still chopping wood. A small clearing seemed to be ahead, so I walked on a little longer.

I snapped back into the present as I walked into the clearing. There, in the middle of the clearing was a statue of a fair young maiden. So intricate were the details of this statue, it looked as though she could, at any moment, get up and walk towards me.

Small creeping plants twined around her, and moss also grew on her. Though, as old as it seemed, the stone in no way was crumbling or cracking. The strangest part of this statue though, was the vibrant blood red scarf laying on her shoulders. Not a single stain or blemish was upon the scarf.

I heard someone coming up from behind me in the woods.

“Tomas, look, I'm sorry. You need not get so upset about it!” When I didn't respond for a long time, he let out a small exasperated sigh, and sat on the ground near the statue. “Might as well eat now, good time as ever...” He mumbled.

“Rowan, look.” I pointed towards the statue. My brother had paid no mind to it. Clearly he didn't think anything unusual about it.

“Yes Tomas, its very nice.” He spoke as if I was a young boy showing him something simple.

“Do you not think it odd? Look, it surely must have been here many years, and yet on the statue itself shows no sign of age or blemish.And look at the red scarf on her. It is without any stain.”

My brother looked mildly annoyed with me now. “I'm betting that the scarf was just placed there by a wayward child.” To prove his point he walked up to the statue and reached for the scarf. Suddenly, a crow darted out of the nearest tree, and stood defensively on the scarf. Every time Rowan reached and got near it, the bird let out another screech.

Even with the bird there, Rowan still tried to take the scarf. The scarf did not come off, it was as if the scarf too was stone.

I walked up to the statue too, and after Rowan decided to give up on trying to retrieve the scarf, I reached up and touched it.

“Its no use Tomas, the thing is stone too. Besides, the bird will probably give you something to think about.”

When I got near the statue, the crow took one good look at me, then flew away. Rowan's eyes must have mirrored my own shock, for upon my touch, the scarf fell to the ground. It was as if my touch released it from the statue.

“I must have loosed it when I tried to take it off,” Rowan stood up and snatched the scarf off the ground. “Mother will be happy to have something to keep her warm this winter.”

“Rowan, give it back.” Something in my voice must have shocked Rowan, for immediately he obeyed. I did not know why I had reacted the way I just had. It confused me more than Rowan.

The scarf was blood red, with intricate patterns on the side that we had seen. I turned it over to inspect the other side. This had a riddle on it, and it read like this:

The scarf has been taken, the guardian you passed

To break this spell, I give you one last task.

For stone I was, and stone I will be.

Until the day, when you can release me.

The verse was confusing. A spell? What was this about a guardian? Then I thought of the crow that had given my brother such a hard time.

I continued reading message on the scarf.

Travel over lands you've never seen before,

travel over hills, through forests and more.

Retrieve my sister scarf, and put her on stone,

still though, my dear brother, your task is not done.

Though questions come in many a call,

to break this spell, do not answer at all.

When you've kept your secret, I promise to you,

this girl will be released, and all will be true.

Happiness you will have and joy a plenty,

but not, my dear sir, if you come back home empty.

My mind whirled with the enormity of what had just happened. This was no statue, no, it was a fair young maiden trapped in stone. I looked at the figure again, it was no wonder she seemed so lifelike.

I had a decision to make, would I do what was asked of me? Would I go searching over hills, through forest, and in foreign countries to free her? Would I be able to keep this secret? And would the promise that was given me that this figure of a maiden would become flesh be true?

I turned to look at Rowan who was lazily asleep in the shade of a tall oak. I would leave them, I would leave them all and make my own fortune in traveling, and in breaking the spell set upon her.

I would leave at first light tomorrow.

Deirdre

And so, he came. He spoke not of it to his companion, which I later found out to be his elder brother.

All through the long days of waiting after that, I always thought of his dark brown hair. I thought of his bright, kind blue eyes that looked upon me with awe. The same eyes that read the scarf with understanding, became full of fierce determination.

I also remembered how his brother looked down on him and ordered around like that of a servant, and how the one with dark hair always obeyed.

My fate now rested in the hands of the one that was called Tomas. With all my heart I wished him to succeed.

Tomas

It had been hard to leave without any explanations. My mother was distraught, and my brother confused. But I was sure that soon they would forget me. I would be gone a long time, for I had not much basis on where to go to search for this twin red scarf.

I had read alot in my youth about legends and myths, and one of them contained a magical red scarf. The storyteller swore that it was true. I remembered little to none of this story, but it was what I had based my journey on. I had to, for there was nothing else I could do.

Rowan -2 years later-

“Is that dear Tomas?” Asked my mother getting up from the seat by the window. “Oh, Rowan! Rejoice, for my son has come back home!”

I looked up bewildered from where I was by the table. Tomas? Back here home? Why, that fellow had been gone almost two years now. It couldn't be him. He'd vanished without any explanation.

I remembered how my heart had been heavy with guilt, for I thought it had been because of me that he had left. I always played over and over in my mind all things I had said to him, and all the times I looked down on him because of who he was. The day he left was the day I found out how much I really loved him. He was my brother, and had always been there for me, whether it was to help with chores, for advice, or if it was to get out of trouble when we were young.

I hastily went to the window to see an older version of my brother walking towards the cottage. I broke into a big smile, and my brown eyes misted over. I ran towards him, shouting his name.

Time seemed to slow down as he looked up at me. His eyes seemed to be filled with new knowledge, and his once akward smile was now confident. The rolled up sleeves of his tunic revealed a new large scar. I could only imagine what a journey he had to have changed from an insecure youth eight of ten to a young confident man of twenty.

As soon as I reached him I pulled him in a fierce hug, I held onto him tight, not wanting to let him go.

“I thought you were dead. When you left and we had no news of you, we thought you had died.”

“Oh Rowan, I missed you all so much.” As I pulled away I saw Tomas's eyes mist up.

Just then I noticed that behind my brother was the figure in the forest. She was not stone though, no, she was breathing and alive. Her deep brown hair that was once locked in stone, now fanned around her in a wild way and framed her beautiful face. Her large brown eyes looked curiously up at me from the spot behind my brother. She was a young woman, and looked about seven of ten. Her long flowing dress was the color of the stone she had been imprisoned in. And the scarf that seemed to only be fit for a queen rested upon her graceful shoulders. She wore it well, and with pride.

“This is Deirdre, the statue in the forest,” his eyes grew brighter and his his smile lit up as he looked back at her and winked. Deirdre blushed and smiled shyly back, her eyes full of adoration and trust. “There is plenty of time for explanations and stories later, but right now I think I can smell some of mother's good cooking from over here. And trust me, I've waited a long time to eat that good food again.”

I could not help but notice as we were walking towards our home how different Tomas was, and how his eyes always softened when he looked at Deirdre. They looked at each other as though there was no one else in the world but them two. I didn't know what had happened, and how Tomas had released her, but I knew from then on that they would always be together.

Tomas

It had been many years since the long journey. And now me and my wife, Deirdre, had two children, and a third on the way. I never forgot the magical way she had turned from stone to flesh when I placed the much sought after scarf around her shoulders.

The moment she looked at me for the first time, and I at her, I knew the promise that was made was fulfilled. I had not known such happiness and joy as I had since then.

I would always remember what Deirdre told me of the long years of waiting for someone to come along that could lift the scarf, and so lift the spell. She told me of many who had tried to take the scarf, but always the crow would scare them off, for they were not the right one.

I also had many memories that I kept to myself of the long, hard journey. Most of it still at times made me wake in the night with terrors. Things had happened that I would always be scarred with. Deirdre helped me heal some of the wounds. And now I once again could say I was a happier man because of her.

When I came home though, not everything was as happy as I had wished it to be. My father's chair by the hearth was empty, and so it had been for a not even a month before I came home.

I had known sorrow that day, and I did grieve over my father, but I had my whole life ahead of me. And I was sharing it with with my angel.

First Post!

Ok, so basically in this blog all I'll be having is my short stories or random poems and stuff I feel like posting. I must warn you though, sometimes its going to be really random. lol. There are also a bunch of poems and short stories that I have read from other places and really liked, so if I post something that isn't my own work, there will be credits at the bottom of the post.
Anyways, enjoy!