Hey everyone! Sorry it has been so long (again) since I have posted!

I have been VERY busy editing and revising my NaNo Novel... Big cheers for everyone who participated!

I would like you all to rate this excerpt and give me feed back. There are five questions and a brief teaser... CLICK HERE to leave feed back.... Let me know!!!!!

 
With
His dying breath,
Billy looked up at the fire chief and said,

'Chief, am I really a fireman now?'

'Billy, you are, and
The Head Chief,
Jesus, is holding your hand,' the chief said


With those words, Billy smiled and said,
'I know, He's
Been holding my hand all day, and
The angels have been
Singing..'

He closed his eyes one last time.

Gosh, it has just been 'one of those days'.

Here, where I live, it is FREEZING cold!  Since it has been snowing the fire won't catch.... it is just getting to feel comfortable in here now.... (70*)

I have been thinking about possibly publishing my novel that I am beginning to revise (I have a feeling it will be a LONG road ahead.....)

I created a Wiki earlier this fall.... You all are welcome to check it out and join! just go to http://www.dreamforme.wetpaint.com and check it out!

Its theme right now is for my novel.....

 Leave me a comment and PM me if you want to chat!

 Tori

I CANNOT believe I haven't posted since JUNE?! Wow.... I must have been busy!

Well...The monthe of November was amazing! I managed to type 50K+ words to complete NaNo Wrimo...YAY! Last year I only made it to 14K words and then I blew out. Yep, I threw in the towel of dispair.

I had decided I would never be able to write that much in just 30 day!!!! But, voila! I decided to give it another go this year and I made it! WAHOOOOO!!!!

Okay, so since I haven't posted in soooooo long.....I decided to make it up to you. I am going to post part of a short story I am writing that, right now, is titled: FATE. 

     "Will you marry me?" The words took Lindsay moore by surprise. She had not expected him to propose. What should she say?
     "No," she said silently, looking down. "Please, God. Help me." Aloud she said, "Brad, I can't. Not now anyway. Please, don't be mad. I just..." She trailed off, not really wanting to tell him no after all this time.
     "Why? Why can't you marry me? Do you not love me?" Brad asked, his deep blue eyes meeting her gaze. She faltered.
      "Yes! Yes, of course I do! What would make you doubt that?"
      "Then why won't you marry me?" Brad persisted. "What stands in your way?" 
       "I can't! Oh Brad, I want to finish college before I commit to anything," she said firmly, trying to meet his steady gaze. "Don't you understand?" she pleaded. "I need time."

He was a year and a half her senior and had completed college the May before. She had no idea that their friendship would lead to a proposal. They had known each other since they were 11 and 13 years old. They grew up in the same neighborhood and had alot in common. But yet, she had never realized that it all built up to this. The moment she dreamed about as a girl.
Was he her knight in shining armor? Was Brad Kepton the prince she had imagined was hers during all those years of watching Cinderella? How was she to know?

A bitter silence hung in the air like a spell. How she wished she could break it. But Brad beat her to it. 
    "If that is the way you want it." he said, quietly. He turned to go, and then changed his mind. "You are the one I dream of. I won't stop dreaming, Lindsay. I just hope that someday, you will share my dream." He turned, and left without another word. Leaving Lindsay hurt, confused, and alone to cry.

So how did you like it? Leave me a comment and let me know!!!!

Thanks again for stopping by,

~Tori

Is finally open! It will still take me awhile to get everything on it and such.... click here to see it!!!!

Comments welcome as always!

Hey Guys! I am helping my mom plan the 4th annual homeschool retreat at Singing Hills Christian Conference Center in Plainfield NH!

It is Tues Sept 30th - Friday Oct 3rd. Our guest Speaker this year is Vicki Bentley. Opening night entertainment is a Chuckwagon Potluck and music from Skip Gorman!!!!

If you would lke a borchure or more info email me on here at BrennaM!

I am currently working on a blog for this event as well!

Talk to ya soon!

Brenna

oohhhh this is good!

A science professor begins his school year with a lecture to the students, "Let me explain the problem science has with religion." The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand.

"You're a Christian, aren't you, son?"

"Yes sir," the student says.

"So you believe in God?"

"Absolutely."

"Is God good?"

"Sure! God's good."

"Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?"

"Yes."

"Are you good or evil?"

"The Bible says I'm evil."

The professor grins knowingly. "Aha! The Bible!" He considers for a moment. "Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?"

"Yes sir, I would."

"So you're good...!"

"I wouldn't say that."

"But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't."

The student does not answer, so the professor continues. "He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?"

The student remains silent.

"No, you can't, can you?" the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.

"Let's start again, young fellow. Is God good?"

"Er...yes," the student says.

"Is Satan good?"

The student doesn't hesitate on this one. "No."

"Then where does Satan come from?"

The student falters. "From God"

"That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?"

"Yes, sir."

"Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?"

"Yes."

"So who created evil?" The professor continued, "If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil."

Again, the student has no answer. "Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?"

The student squirms on his feet. "Yes."

"So who created them?"

The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question. "Who created them?" There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized. "Tell me," he continues onto another student. "Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?"

The student's voice betrays him and cracks. "Yes, professor, I do."

The old man stops pacing. "Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?"

"No sir. I've never seen Him."

"Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?"

"No, sir, I have not."

"Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?"

"No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't."

"Yet you still believe in him?"

"Yes."

"According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?"

"Nothing," the student replies. "I only have my faith."

"Yes, faith," the professor repeats. "And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith."

The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of His own. "Professor, is there such thing as heat?"

"Yes," the professor replies. "There's heat."

"And is there such a thing as cold?"

"Yes, son, there's cold too."

"No sir, there isn't."

The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain. "You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees."

"Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it."

Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.

"What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?"

"Yes," the professor replies without hesitation. "What is night if it isn't darkness?"

"You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word."

"In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?"

The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester. "So what point are you making, young man?"

"Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed."

The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. "Flawed? Can you explain how?"

"You are working on the premise of duality," the student explains. "You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought."

"It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it."

"Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?"

"If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do."

"Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?"

The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.

"Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?"

The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided.

"To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean."

The student looks around the room. "Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?" The class breaks out into laughter.

"Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelt the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir."

"So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?"

Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable.

Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. "I guess you'll have to take them on faith."

"Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life," the student continues. "Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?"

Now uncertain, the professor responds, "Of course, there is. We see it everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil."

To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light."

You guys have probably given up all hope for me!!!!! LOL I haven' fallen off the face of the earth (yet)

We have been amazingly busy! Tomorrow (Thursday) my family and I begin our travels to VA to the HEAV homeschool convention......if any of you will be there look us up! We will be at the Hands Of A Child Booth!

Talk to you guys when we get back!

C ya lata!

Me

"By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established, through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures."

 Proverbs 24:3-4

With out wisdom how could a house be built?
Could you establish a house without understanding what needs to be done and how to do it?
Could you fill a house with antiques and priceless treasures without knowing their needs or care?

All of these examples work in our spiritual lives too!
Without the wisdom of God in you, your heart could not be the House of God.
Without understanding the word of God your house (heart) could never be fully established.
Without the knowledge of how to keep your God given blessings, talents, and treasures safe they would perish!

Comments?

Boy, did I miss you guys! Sorry it has been so long...We have been out of state traveling and I have been working alot more hours then normal....but enough with the excuses

My mom celebrated her B-day on the 14th! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!!!!!

Prep for my violin recital is coming along fairly well.

I started vaulting....yes, vaulting...For those of you who don't know what vaulting is, it is riding a MASSIVE horse bare- back with handles ( vaulting saddle) and 'sticky socks' (hospital socks, the ones with the non slip bottom) You can stand, jump, do flips, and whole bunches of stuff vaulting! I ride a Percheron, jet black with a white blaze. her feet are as big around as a basket ball and I can't reach her back on my tip-toes....(I am apx 5ft tall)
Also when vaulting, you ride without shoes! Yes, I said without shoes! So you can imagine how petrified I was the first time I rode her!

Ok, so those are my ramblings!

Leave a comment!

Hey! I will not be here for a few days.........keep us in your prayers for safe travel as a storm is moving in.

leave a comment! I will talk to you all when I return! thank you all!

Trixie (My new nickname!)

What A day!!!!!

My Grandfather has been a private pilot for 35 years.....my older brother just did his Cross Country Solo today!!!! We surprised my Grandfather at the Airport where my brother was flying in....it was FREEZING cold out.

Our excuse?
My Grandfather is a die-hard Giants Fan...has been as long as I can remember. So our excuse was a 'Post Super Bowl tailgate party'

It would be hard to explain the look on  his face when my brother climbed out of the University Plane!!!!! Speechless and amazed would be the best words for it! lol!

So how have you guys been?

Leave a comment!

Me

Crochetcrazy has awarded me! I am going to award forestcrazy, and AndiCarter!

Thanks Renee!

The Totally Random Tag!

Are you related to any famous people?   No

Do you know any famous people?  Not really

Have you ever published anything?  Yes, a story and a few other things....

Have you ever owned a reptile?   No, but I LOVE snakes!

Would you try out for American Idol if you could?  No!

Do you play any intruments?  Absolutely! I play violin and take voice lessons too!

Can you speak any languages besides English?   I am pretty good at ASL. (still have a LONG way to go....)

For those under 18 only: If you were 18, who would you vote for as U.S. president?  I am not sure.........

Have you ever been in a major car accident?  No, but I've witnessed one involving people that I knew.  (very scary!) I even had to relate the accident to a person working on the case!

Have you ever taken part in an exreme sport?  Well.....I ride horses! 

If you could meet any famous person, who would it be?  Carolyn Keen....(Nancy Drew books) and/or a country singer......

If you could meet any famous historical figure, who would it be?  Well.......Clara Barton, and SO many others!

What is your favorite fantasy creature?  I like faries and mermaids I think......

If you could buy any one thing (not abstract), what would it be?  A piece of land, a hundred or so acres with cleared pastures and safe fencing (not barbed wire!), and large stable/barn with tack and feed rooms, a nice house, several miles of woodland trails, an indoor and outdoor riding arena, and a round pen.  Is that really too much to ask???  lol!  OH and a dozen horses! :-)

Warned you it was totally random.  Now go out and tag someone!

okay, I'm tagging forestcrazy, crochetcrazy, and stillsmallvoice! Arrow, any of my friends who want to do it, and any one who reads this.  That means you!

My little sister has gotten her very own blog!  It is called 'In Natures Arms' and you can see it by clicking here. Her username is dannie09 so check her out and leave her a comment!

One Happy Cowgirl

I got this from crochetcrazy

A holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said, "Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like."
The Lord led the holy man to two doors. He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in. In the middle of the roomwas a large round table.
In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew, which smelled delicious and made the ho ly man's mouth water. The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished.
They were holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful.
But because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths.
The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering.
The Lord said, "You have seen Hell."
They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man's mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking.
The holy man said, "I don't understand." It is simple," said the Lord. It requires but one skill. You see.they have learned to feed each other,while the greedy think only of themselves."
When Jesus died on the cross, he was thinking of you. Its estimated 93% won't repost this. If you are one of the 7% who will, repost this with the title "7%". I'm in the 7% Remember that I will always share my spoon with you.

Me

I think that this is SO true! I recieved it from Suzy's Scribbles. Go and visit her! She is an awesome lady!

Comments are welcome!

One Happy Cowgirl

Here is the next devotional! It is based on being chosen for a calling and how we react when we are called.

Judges 6:14-16 (KJV)

 '14And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?

 15And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.

 16And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.'

God has a calling for you, for me. A high calling designed especialy for us!

This is a poem taken from: POEMS FOR MEMORIZATION pg-42

  TO REMEMBER

Find out what God would have you do,

And do that little well;

for what is great and what is small,

This only He can tell.

*AUTHOR UNKNOWN

We cannot decide for ourselves what is a 'high calling' and what is not! Only He can. He has made each one of us special. Each able to do seperate things. I am going to mention a quote from one of our previous devotions:

"Men judge us by the success of our efforts. God looks at the efforts themselves."

                         ~Charlotte Brontë (1816-1855)

God has made each one of us for a reason, a purpose. Let me ask you, have you given up yours? Have you passed something by because it wouldn't be considered a 'high calling'? Go back and pick it up! God loves you!

One Happy Cowgirl