Jesus > Me

Our New President

Sure, he's not my first choice, but it's what America wanted.

Now that he's our future president, he deserves our respect...

Even though we don't all agree with his morals and values...

...CHANGE...

*ka-ching!*

ROTFLOLing, LOL, haha, hehe... *giggle*

*ahem*

Anyhoo...

Senator Obama will be the first black president in the history of the U.S.A.

...and his wife will be the first black first lady of the U.S.A.

He beat McCain by a long-run.

349 to 162

Ouch.

So... All this to say,

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God."

Who knows? Senator Obama might surprise us!

P.S.--I realize some of you are thinking, "Wait, Barack Obama's not black! He's just half black! So, technically, he's not black!". This is true, my friends, but he appears to be black, so he is, therefore, considered black.

Dolphin Template Drawing, Hosted by Free Templates!

**Click HERE! to view it full-sized.**

Enter yourself in the drawing by leaving a comment on Free Templates, making sure to include a link to your blog.

Then, if you'd like to enter a second time to increase your chances of winning, simply post about the drawing on your blog.

You can just repost what I posted, as long as you make note that I wrote it.  

Election day--THIS Tuesday!

Free Templates! {a new revolution.}

Introducing...

thoughtful thursdays

If we do not die to ourselves, we cannot live to God, and he that does not live to God, is dead.

-George MacDonald-

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

The Old Man & The Dog

Please note, that I did not write the following, but I don't know who did.

___________________________________________________

"Watch out! You nearly broadsided that car!" my father yelled at me. "Can't you do anything right?"

Those words hurt worse than blows. I turned my head toward the elderly man in the seat beside me, daring me to challenge him. A lump rose in my throat as I averted my eyes. I wasn't prepared for another battle.

"I saw the car, Dad. Please don't yell at me when I'm driving." My voice was measured and steady, sounding far calmer than I really felt.

Dad glared at me, then turned away and settled back. At home I left Dad in front of the television and went outside to collect my thoughts. Dark, heavy clouds hung in the air with a promise of rain. The rumble of distant thunder seemed to echo my inner turmoil.

What could I do about him? Dad had been a lumberjack in Washington and Oregon He had enjoyed being outdoors and had reveled in pitting his strength against the forces of nature. He had entered grueling lumberjack competitions, and had placed often. The shelves in his house were filled with trophies that attested to his prowess.

The years marched on relentlessly. The first time he couldn't lift a heavy log, he joked about it; but later that same day I saw him outside alone, straining to lift it. He became irritable whenever anyone teased him about his advancing age, or when he couldn't do something he had done as a younger man.

Four days after his sixty-seventh birthday, he had a heart attack. An ambulance sped him to the hospital while a paramedic administered CPR to keep blood and oxygen flowing. At the hospital, Dad was rushed into an operating room. He was lucky; he survived.

But something inside Dad died. His zest for life was gone. He obstinately refused to follow doctor's orders. Suggestions and offers of help were turned aside with sarcasm and insults. The number of visitors thinned, then finally stopped altogether. Dad was left alone.

My husband, Dick, and I asked Dad to come live with us on our small farm. We hoped the fresh air and rustic atmosphere would help him adjust. Within a week after he moved in, I regretted the invitation. It seemed nothing was satisfactory. He criticized everything I did. I became frustrated and moody. Soon I was taking my pent-up anger out on Dick. We began to bicker and argue.

Alarmed, Dick sought out our pastor and explained the situation. The clergyman set up weekly counseling appointments for us. At the close of each session he prayed, asking God to soothe Dad's troubled mind. But the months wore on and God was silent. Something had to be done and it was up to me to do it.

The next day I sat down with the phone book and methodically called each of the mental health clinics listed in the Yellow Pages. I explained my problem to each of the sympathetic voices that answered. In vain. Just when I was giving up hope, one of the voices suddenly exclaimed, "I just read something that might help you! Let me go get the article." I listened as she read. The article described a remarkable study done at a nursing home. All of the patients were under treatment for chronic depression. Yet their attitudes had improved dramatically when they were given responsibility for a dog.

I drove to the animal shelter that afternoon. After I filled out a questionnaire, a uniformed officer led me to the kennels. The odor of disinfectant stung my nostrils as I moved down the row of pens. Each contained five to seven dogs. Long-haired dogs, curly-haired dogs, black dogs, spotted dogs all jumped up, trying to reach me. I studied each one but rejected one after the other for various reasons too big, too small, too much hair.

As I neared the last pen a dog in the shadows of the far corner struggled to his feet, walked to the front of the run and sat down. It was a pointer, one of the dog world's aristocrats. But this was a caricature of the breed. Years had etched his face and muzzle with shades of gray. His hipbones jutted out in lopsided triangles. But it was his eyes that caught and held my attention. Calm and clear, they beheld me unwaveringly. I pointed to the dog. "Can you tell me about him?"

The officer looked, then shook his head in puzzlement. "He's a funny one. Appeared out of nowhere and sat in front of the gate. We brought him in, figuring someone would be right down to claim him. That was two weeks ago and we've heard nothing. His time is up tomorrow." He gestured helplessly.

As the words sank in I turned to the man in horror. "You mean you're going to kill him?"

"Ma'am," he said gently, "that's our policy. We don't have room for every unclaimed dog."

I looked at the pointer again. The calm brown eyes awaited my decision. "I'll take him," I said.

I drove home with the dog on the front seat beside me. When I reached the house I honked the horn twice. I was helping my prize out of the car when Dad shuffled onto the front porch. "Ta-da! Look what I got for you, Dad!" I said excitedly.

Dad looked, then wrinkled his face in disgust. "If I had wanted a dog I would have gotten one. And I would have picked out a better specimen than that bag of bones. Keep it! I don't want it." Dad waved his arm scornfully and turned back toward the house.

Anger rose inside me. It squeezed together my throat muscles and pounded into my temples. "You'd better get used to him, Dad. He's staying!" Dad ignored me. "Did you hear me, Dad?" I screamed.

At those words Dad whirled angrily, his hands clenched at his sides, his eyes narrowed and blazing with hate. We stood glaring at each other like duelists, when suddenly the Pointer pulled free from my grasp. He wobbled toward my dad and sat down in front of him. Then slowly, carefully, he raised his paw.

Dad's lower jaw trembled as he stared at the uplifted paw. Confusion replaced the anger in his eyes. The pointer waited patiently. Then Dad was on his knees hugging the animal. It was the beginning of a warm and intimate friendship. Dad named the pointer Cheyenne.

Together he and Cheyenne explored the community. They spent long hours walking down dusty lanes. They spent reflective moments on the banks of streams, angling for tasty trout. They even started to attend Sunday services together, Dad sitting in a pew and Cheyenne lying quietly at his feet.

Dad and Cheyenne were inseparable throughout the next three years. Dad's bitterness faded, and he and Cheyenne made many friends.

Then late one night I was startled to feel Cheyenne's cold nose burrowing through our bed covers. He had never before come into our bedroom at night. I woke Dick, put on my robe and ran into my father's room. Dad lay in his bed, his face serene. But his spirit had left quietly sometime during the night.

Two days later my shock and grief deepened when I discovered Cheyenne lying dead beside Dad's bed. I wrapped his still form in the rag rug he had slept on As Dick and I buried him near a favorite fishing hole, I silently thanked the dog for the help he had given me in restoring Dad's peace of mind.

The morning of Dad's funeral dawned overcast and dreary. This day looks like the way I feel, I thought, as I walked down the aisle to the pews reserved for family. I was surprised to see the many friends Dad and Cheyenne had made filling the church.

The pastor began his eulogy. It was a tribute to both Dad and the dog who had changed his life. And then the pastor turned to Hebrews 13:2. "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers." "I've often thanked God for sending that angel," he said.

For me, the past dropped into place, completing a puzzle that I had not seen before: the sympathetic voice that had just read the right article . . . Cheyenne's unexpected appearance at the animal shelter . . . his calm acceptance and complete devotion to my father . . . and the proximity of their deaths. And suddenly I understood. I knew that God had answered my prayers after all.

Life is too short for drama & petty things, so laugh hard, love truly and forgive quickly. Live while you are alive. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity. Forgive now those who made you cry. You might not get a second time.

Please, do share this with someone. Lost time can never be found.

____________________________________________________

If I tagged or awarded you, please see the below post. Thanks! =)

an award and a tag, an award, and a tag, and a tag =)

This is nuts.

I've been awarded! Thanks, Micah!

Now, for you recipients of this award, here is the deal: * Display your award. * Link back to the person who gave you the award. Doggydiva24, http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/profiles/Doggydiva24. * Nominate at least 7 other blogs. Bluejane, Discussions With A Purpose, GraceElizabeth, Pennies From Heaven. (that is 7, because P.F.H. is a group blog, shared by four sisters. =) * Put links to those blogs on yours. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/profiles/Bluejane/ http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/profiles/discussionswpurpose/ http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/singmetoheaven http://www.penniesforyou.com   * Leave a message on the blogs of the people you have nominated.  * Enjoy your award! Here is the tag portion... 1. Where is your cellphone? It's still at the cellular phone store... =( 2. Where is your significant other? Yeah... Not only do I not know what that means, but I don't think I have a "significant other". 3. Your hair color? Brown... Light brown that is. =) 4. Your mother? Marie, a.k.a.--mom. She works as a science and piano teacher, and as a personal chef. ; ) 5. Your father? Scott, a.k.a.--dad. He works as a draftsman, and as a football-watcher. =)  6. Your favorite thing? Horses... Ah, horses.... *ahem* 7. Your dream last night? Dream... at night?? Naw... dreams only happen during the day! 8. Your dream/goal? To get a degree (in some area that I'm not sure of right now, but I'm pretty sure it will somehow include art), and then go as a missionary to the place God has called me (I'm not sure of that either.) 9. The room you are in? The computer room/guest bedroom. 10. Your hobby? Please see the "interests" section in my profile. =) 11. Your fear? Fear?? I don't fear anything--AH! A BUTTERFLY! 12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Hopefully I will have graduated highschool, and will be attending college. 13. Where were you last night? Home, watching "Bridge to Terabithia" and it was SUCH a good movie! 14. What you are not? I am not a toad, nor a koala, nor the Geico geckho (sp?). 15. One of your wish-list items? A horse, but on the "non-fiction-wish-list", horse riding lessons. =) 16. Where you grew up? As I mentioned before... I can't tell you, because I still live here. =)  17. The last thing you did?  I deleted Micah's previous answer. =) 18. What are you wearing? A teal shirt that says, "LiVe Out Loud" on it, and light blue basketball shorts. 19. Your TV? Which one?? We've got two. 20. Your pet? 2 cats. 21. Your computer? Which one?? We've got three. 22. Your mood? *evil laugh* 23. Missing someone? Yes, my cousins Sam, Reed, and Riley... 24. Your car? Is in the shop...after we got rear-ended two Sundays ago by a 16-year old teenaged boy. 25. Something you are not wearing? gloves. 26. Favorite store? I don't really like shopping that much, but I guess I'd have to say Best Buy. =)  27. Your summer? Was spent doing so many camps I can't even tell you all of them, because they'd take up a total of four hours to type out. 28. Love someone? Besides God, Jesus and my family?? Nope. 29. Your favorite color? Orange...? 30. When is the last time you laughed? Just now! At the answers I'm writing! JK. 31. Last time you cried? I cried for half a second last night when I was watching, "Bridge to Terabitha" because of Jess's reaction to Leslie's death... It was such good acting! =P

Awarded by GraceElizabeth!

My dear friend Grace awarded me the "C for Contagious" award.

Isn't it lovely?? She said it was contagious in a good way, but I dont' know if I can be so sure...

I award...

Narniagirl (http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Narniagirl/)

Vintagegirl (http://www.simplyvintagegirl.com/blog/ )

Magg93 (http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/maggswaggs)

Don't worry, gals, it's contagious in a good way. =)

It's the "sixish" tag!

1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag sixish people at the end of your post.
5. Let each person know he or she has been tagged.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

 __________________________________________

1. I'm deathly afraid of butterflies.

2. I only have to do the "odd" numbers in my math lessons, thanks to Mrs. S........

3. I greatly enjoy mayo*insert rest of the crazily-hard-to-spell word here* (that's right, JUST the mayo*insert rest of the crazily-hard-to-spell word here*!) sandwiches!

4. I have eaten alligator and fried twinkies in the same night.

5. I am the secretary of my choir, and *McDonald's theme* I'm lovin' it!

6. See all of the above.......... Now that you've done that, it is safe to say that I'm very random and I have a good sense of humor in the blogosphere. =)

Tagged peoples of earth...

Gracealamode (http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/lovecity)

Tessa (http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/profiles/Tessa)

BookLover (http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/BookLover/)

BrennaM (http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/profiles/BrennaM/)

Tagged peoples from outer space...

(please note! I have license to do this, because these are people I know in real life, so they know I'm just joking)

Doggydiva24 (http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Doggydiva24/ )

Desi (http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Desi )

___________________________

Hair Color:
[] Black = $100
[] Blonde = $50
[] Red = $75
[x] Brown = $15
[] Bald = $5
[] Other=$2

Eye Color:
[X] Brown - $150
[] Green - $75
[] Blue $50
[] Hazel $100
[] Other - $15

Height:
[] Over 7' - $200
[] 6'8' to 7' - $175
[] 6'0' to 6'7' - $150
[X] 5'5' to 5'11' - $75
[]4'9' to 5'4' - $50
[] Under 4'9 - $45

Age:
[] 41 to 50 - $150
[] 31 to 40 - $100
[] 26 to 30 - $75
[] 21 to 25 - $50
[] 19 to 20 - $25
[x] 0 to 18 - $100

Birth Order:
[] Twins or more than twins - $300
[x] First Born - $300
[]Only Child - $250
[]second born - $150
[] Middle child - $100
[] Last Born - $200
[] third born - $100
[] fourth born - $100
[] fifth born - $375

Drink?
[x] No - $400
[] Only Holidays - $300
[] Sometimes - $215
[] YES - $200
[] only weekends - $250
[] Every other day - $50
[] Once a day - $15
[] I live from the bottle

Vision?
[X] perfect vision - $300
[] have glasses/contacts and wear them - $200
[] No correction - $100
[] Glasses - $50
[] contacts - $25
[] Surgical correction - $135

Car Color [or families' car(S)]: 
[x] White - $2,000
[] Maroon - $800
[] Gold - $700
[] Grey - $600
[] Blue - $900
[] Pink - $475
[] Black - $450
[] Red - $400
[] Green- $350
[] Silver - $300
[] Purple - $250
[] Metallic - $200
[] Yellow - $100
[] Primer - $75
[X] Tan - $20
[] Rusted - $15
[] No Car - $0
[]Burgundy-$2,015

Shoe Size:
[] 13+ - $300
[]12 and a half to 13 - $250
[X] 11 to 12 - $700
[] 7 to 10 - $600
[] Under 7- $550

Favorite Colors (pick three):
[]Green - $750
[]Black - $600
[]Red - $800
[]Yellow -$475
[]Brown - $50
[]Purple - $225
[X]Aqua - $350
[]Orange - $300
[X]Blue - $300
[]Pink - $100
[]Other - $ 50   
[X]light blue-$1,000

Did you use a calculator to add it all up?
[] Yes - $0
[X] No - add $1000
[] On some - $750

How many people are you going to send this to?
[] 100 - 150 = $2500
[] 90 - 80 = $1000
[] 70 - 60 = $900
[] 50 - 40 = $700
[] 30 - 20 = $500
[] 19 - 10 = $100
[] 10 - 1 = $5
[x] post it on a blog = $2000

I'm worth $8,745!

And I tag everyone who's special... That's all of you!

_____________________________

Thanks, and I hope you enjoyed learning more about me!

--renee--

template drawing winner~new template for myself~half birthdays

Okay, I'll start with the most important part...

....The Template Drawing WInner...

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/birdsong

Congratulations, Kori! I'll send you the HTML code in a Private Message. =)

Just to make this clear to you...

MandyGrace was the original winner (if you'd like, Mandy, I can make you a template with the same layout--different background), but then (before I got the post posted) I noticed that Kori had left a comment to enter--Thanks, Kori! So I drew a name--Desi. I drew another name--LittleSparrow. Now came the moment of truth... LittleSparrow. =) Therefore, Kori wins, by all fair means.

If you would like me to make you a template, feel free to stop by my template blog...

______________________

Alright, everyone, I have a questions for y'all...

I've been working on a new template for this blog (it's on display HERE! so click  HERE! and if you didn't get that, please click  HERE!)

Any suggestions?? Any comments?? Any compliments?? 

I made the header myself, and the background, but the original graphics are from...

(I also made that {^^^^^} myself... WITHOUT Adobe Photoshop)

 ______________________________

Today's my half-birthday! It's usually not that big of a deal, but now I only have six months left of being 12. =(

--Renee--

a tag... just because I have nothing better to post about...

Would you like to be notified each time I post? If so, please send me your e-mail in a private message.

1. Have you ever got any thing stuck in your nose that you thought was going to be stuck there the rest of your life?
No, but my sister has. (if you're really that interested, please leave a comment asking me about it, and I'll be happy to explain. =)

2. Have you ever broken a bone?
No... But with the way I go up and down the stairs, I probably will. =)

3. Have you ever stubbed you toe more then 5 times in one day?
Yeah...

template giveaway!

I have hereby decided, that it is time for me to give away another template. But first, here are the rules of the game.

1. You can make whatever changes you want to to the template, but please do not take the original template credits off of the credits section.

2. In order to be entered, all you have to do is leave a comment! Anonymous comments will not be counted. You must leave a link to your HSB blog.

3. If you would like to be entered more than once, you can post about it on your blog, then leave another comment telling me you did so.

The template is on display here...

HTMLandStuff  

Those are the basics rules. Any questions? If so, please-- feel free to ask!

 This will be open for entrants until September 23, 2008.

Hurry! Time is running out! Only 6 more days to enter!

If no one enters, then this template will be sent to RecycledTemplates.

If you would like a custom template, please visit my main template blog, TemplateTIdbits.

Thanks!  

--Renee--

Icon Wars~Mary's Lamb~The Hokey Pokey in Shakespearean Language

ICON WARS...

Have you ever noticed when you use your computer first thing in
the morning, the icons appear to be in a different place than
when you left?
Have you sensed that something goes on if you leave your
computer on over night?
Well, when you go to bed at night and forget to shut down your
computer, I think you ought to know what actually goes on. For
the first time, someone has captured what takes place after you
leave the room.

Turn your sound on, but not too loud... AND WAIT!! No need to click anything except
the link below.


http://www.xs4all.nl/~jvdkuyp/flash/see.htm
http://www.xs4all.nl/%7Ejvdkuyp/flash/see.htm

Mary's Lamb...

Think carefully about what you're reading... I realize we're all homeschoolers, but this poem is so true!

Mary had a little Lamb,
His fleece was white as snow.
And everywhere that Mary went,
The Lamb was sure to go.


He followed her to school each day,
T'wasn't even in the rule.
It made the children laugh and play,
To have a Lamb at school.

And then the rules all changed one day,
Illegal it became;
To bring the Lamb of God to school,
Or even speak His Name!


Every day got worse and worse,
And days turned into years.
Instead of hearing children laugh,
We heard gun shots and tears.

What must we do to stop the crime,
That's in our schools today?
Let's let the Lamb come back to school,
And teach our kids to pray!

-----------------------------------------------------

If you agree, please pass this on.

It is said that 86% of Canadian, American & British people believe in God.
Why don't we just tell the other 14% to be quiet and sit down???? 

...9/11...

...It was a day of tragedy, a day of strife, and a day of terrible loss...

...No one really expected it...

...But no one ever does...

...My hope is that this never happens again...

...Though hope hasn't always won...

...Instead we should all be praying...

..."Lord, please help my country"...

..."For I'm"...

*music starts*

...Proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free!

And I won't forget the men who died who gave that right to me!

And I gladly stand up, next to you and defend her still today;

For there ain't no doubt I love this land...

God bless the U-S-A!

prayer requests...

Hello, all! Many prayer requests are coming into my mind as I type these opening sentences, so please pray for these--if not directly, you could at least say, "...and for all the things listed on Renee's blog..." All prayers are much appreciated.

---------

Many prayers need to be exteneded to a young lady (8th grade) and her family. Her mom has been battling cancer for the past three years, and she's finally healed. God took her home Monday, September 8, 2008 and her family just needs prayer right now.

---------

My friend (Hanna, soon to be 14, and in the 8th grade) has recently lost her great-grandmother. She was a wonderful woman, and prayers need to be extended to that family...For encouragement in this hard time.

---------

My kitten.... She has an infection in-between her toes on her left foot. We have to clean it out 3 times a day, putting Gold Bond® powder on it afterwards--letting it sit for five minutes. We also have to give her medicine (liquid, by mouth) once a day. =( Poor thing.

---------

That's all for now...

Thanks for your prayers,

--Renee--

www.prolifeteenagers.com

Turn the music on my blog (at the bottom of the page) and take 30 seconds to watch this video. It really opens your eyes as to just how badly we need to make abortion illegal. A new generation is dying.

Pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks....

Please go to www.prolifeteenagers.com and sign the petition. They have a goal of 10 million signatures, and I'm only the 60th. =(

--Renee-- 

Writing Challenge #1~Seasonal Poems

My assignment this week, was to write a poem about my favorite season. So without further stalling...

...These are a few of my favorite things (about this certain season)...

When Jack Frost bites your nose,

And you get frostbite on your toes--

That's my favorite time of year,

A time of joy, and a time of cheer.

A time of feasting,

and a time for laughing;

A time to wear layers,

Whether you want to or not.

This time of year is my favorite,

because here in Texas,

It's not too cold and it's not too hot. =)

---------------------

Okay, so the last few lines didn't rhyme... But other than that, what did you think?

--Renee--

celebrating the life of "Dozer" Drews

Please, please lift up your prayers for the Drews family in Texas. Their 3year-old boy passed away unexpectedly this past week. Little Dozer went to be with in the arms of Jesus. I haven’t met Marshie personally, but I am sure she is a wonderful mother, and my heart is aching right now for her and her family. I can’t imagine what she is going through. Please pray for comfort for this family. Please pray for them. Just pray.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Father,

Please bless this family as they go through this hard time. Please keep your arms around them, and remind them that You're there. You're always there, You'll never fail them. I ask that we don't forget to include them in our daily prayers, Father. Thank you for everything.

In Your Son's name we can pray,

Amen.

HSMWT-- Homeschool Agendas

Where to start? To make this easier on you (and me), I'm just going to do my extra-curricular activities. I know this isn't quite an agenda, but it'll do, right?

MONDAY--

Flute, 8:30-9:00AM

School, 9:30AM-2:45PM

Drive to choir, 2:45-3:25PM

Choir, 3:30-4:55PM

Symphony, 4:55-6:30PM

Drive home, 6:45-?PM

TUESDAY--

Start school, 8:00-9:45AM

(the following happens during Tuesday School)

Art class, 10:30AM-12:00PM

Lunch, 12:00-12:45PM

Help with science 3/4--school, 12:45-2:00PM

Help with science 5/6--school, 2:30-3:45PM

(end Tuesday School)

Mom teaches piano, 5:30-7:30PM

WEDNESDAY--

School, 8:00AM--whenever-I'm-done

Dinner at church, 5:30PM

Youth group (8^/), 6:45-7:30PM

Worship, 7:30-8:00PM

Light meal/snack at church, 8:00PM-whenever

THURSDAY--

Start school, 8:00AM-12:00PM

Emma's choir/ I do school, 12:30-2:00PM

Mom teaches piano, 3:00PM-6:30PM?

FRIDAY--

(all happens at Friday School)

Pre-algebra with Mr. S., 8:30-10:20AM

Latin IA, 10:30-11:30AM?

Lunch break/school, 11:30AM--12:30PM

School, 12:30-1:30PM

Physical Science with Mrs A, 1:30-2:30PM

(end Friday School)

Rest/finish up school, 3:45-whenever

----------------------

There you have it! We're hoping to throw in some horse lessons somewhere in there if budget allows, but still haven't found someone close enough. =(

Thanks for reading all the way to the bottom! I know it doesn't seem like much, but when you've gotta' drive 15-45 minutes to all of these places, it can get pretty hectic!

The Simple Woman's Daybook Day 1, 1 day late

Outside My Window... I see the neighbor's yard, which has a slide and a swing. =)

I am thinking... That I should probably do my Bible reading for the day.

I am thankful for... My family, who blesses me each day.

From the kitchen... I see a yard that I should offer to mow, but I don't know how. =(

I am wearing...A red shirt, with creamish shorts and brown shoes.

I am creating... in the process of creating the front of my sketchbook for art class

I am going... to church tomorrow, to begin the youth group.

I am reading... "The Cat of Bubastes" by G.A. Henty

I am hoping... That I'm doing this all right.

I am hearing... My mother teach piano lessons.

Around the house... is carpet.

One of my favorite things... horses.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:

Finishing up my schoolowork, and finishing up organizing my room.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

(enough said.)

HMWT-- All About Me!

     My name's Renee, and I'm in the 7th grade. Towering above all my friends at 5'8" I am the tallest girl in my Sunday School class, and I enjoy it. =) My hair is brown, and its length is below my ears, above my shoulders. I have brown (almost black) eyes and I've got braces.

     My family consists of dad--Scott, mom--Marie, sister--Emma, cat #1-- Precious, and cat #2-- Hershey. I thank the Lord for all of them, and for what they do for me. My cats crack me up and they even know how to climb the ladder! In fact, Hershey's sitting on the top right now. =)

     My family and I use Tapestry of Grace, and I am currently reading "The Cat of Bubastes". It is a good book so far, but not quite what I expected from G.A. Henty, but it's a good book!

     I keep up with two blogs, and am in partnership with one. I love it here on HSB, and blogging takes up a majority of my free time... Which I don't have much of, mostly because I'm completely engulfed in school, plus One Day Academy twice a week. I've got choir, flute, symphony, school, symphonic band, piano, and tons of other random stuff. =oP Oh well, we manage. =)

      Some of my other hobbies include reading, crocheting (though I don't do it much anymore...), fiddling around on the piano & flute, drawing, working on improving my HTML skills, making templates, etc....

      ... What else? I guess that's just about it... All that I'm allowed to share with y'all, anyway. *evil laugh*

Just Henry

     I am StoryGirl's new partner-in-crime, er... sidekick. hehe... Here's the first story I wrote, there's a description of my new "segment" of her blog at the bottom. =)

    “Henry, please come here!” Momma called.
    “Yes, Momma?” Henry answered, wondering if he was in trouble.
    “Henry, what did I tell you about bringing snakes into the house?” his mother said in an irritated tone.
    “Don’t bring any snakes in the house, especially the ones with rattles.” replied Henry in a downcast tone.
    “Well… This looks like a snake to me, and it sounds like it’s rattling!”
    “But Momma-!”
    “No ‘buts’! To your room immediately, young man.”
    “Yes, ma’am.” As Henry stomped up the stairs he began to think of what he’d done. He wondered if he should feel sorry for the snake, or sorry for brining it in the house. He opted to feel sorry for bringing it in the house, in fear of further frustrating his momma. "She may be my momma, but she can’t keep me from helping out the things God’s created," Henry thought, while he was holding back his tears. Once he got to his room, though, he couldn’t hold them back any longer. He broke down.
    "They make it so clear—they don’t love me, they think I’m just a nuisance… I’m not going to stay here if they don’t want me. That’s it! I’m gonna’ run away! That’s a great idea! Then I can open up a veterinary clinic and help all the animals," he thought. That’s exactly what he did. He ran away from home. Lots of children have ideas to do such a thing, but most of them don’t ever do it.
    But Henry did. His parents wept when they read the note he left behind… it read the following - "Momma and Pa, I have decided to run away, and I don’t believe I’ll be coming back anytime soon. You can chase after me if you want, but you won’t find me. I’ve run far, far away. I left at midnight, when y’all were asleep. I believe that y’all are glad I’m gone. Y’all didn’t want me or my slimy, slithery friends… especially the ones that have a musical instrument built-into their tails. Bye-bye… forever, --Henry ".
    They immediately sent out a search party, but had no luck for a week. What Henry was doing for that week is rather surprising! "Alright, I’m gonna’ need an axe, a hammer, some nails and screws, and a screwdriver…" he said to himself. He went down to the local hardware store’s dumpster and found an axe, a hammer, some nails and screws, and a screwdriver that the store had discarded. Now all he needed was some help…
    But who was gonna’ help a kid who had run away from his family? Then one day, he found someone. It was a gentleman, who was sitting on the side of the road. Henry walked up to the man and started a friendly conversation, like you would have with one of your old pals.
    “Hello, old sir!” Henry said with a smile.
    “Well hello, young sir!” The gentleman said as he laughed.
    “How are you today?” said Henry to the gentleman.
    “I’m doing just fine.” he said in reply. “Might I interest you in some employment?”
    “How much does it pay?” “Hmm… That all depends on how long it takes…”
    “Why, whatever do you mean?” the man said curiously.
    “I’m going to open a veterinary clinic, and I need somebody to help me build the building. Would you be willing to help?” Henry asked.
    “Well, sure! I got nothin’ better to do!” cried the old man.
    “Great! Follow me!” So the Henry and the gentleman set off to the site that Henry had been clearing.
    “Here she is!” Henry said, beaming.
    “Son, you don’t have a foundation laid or nothin’!” the old man cried in a tone of dispair.
    “A… foundation?” Henry asked , shakily.
    “Yes, son," replied the old man. "If you don’t got a proper foundation, your building’s gonna’ shake and rattle whenever a heavy wind comes ‘round!”
    “Oh… Well, we can chop down some trees real quick, come on!” said Henry as he scurried to get the axe.
    “No, son, you gotta’ use concrete. By the way, where’d you get such a nice axe, anyway?”
    “I found it in an alley behind the local hardware store.”
    “You do know that’s considered stealin’, right son?” asked the old man.
    “No, it was in the alley, by the trash can," Henry said. "So I figured they didn’t want it anymore! That’s where I found the hammer and the nails and screws! Did I steal those, too?”
    “Look, boy," said the old man, in a softer tone, "I don’t know where you come from and I don’t know your name, but you’re a thief. Where are your parents?”
    “Back home,” Henry replied, looking at the ground as he spoke.
    “What do you mean, ‘back home’?”  asked the old man. Henry explained the whole story to the gentleman and here’s what their verdict was… “First off, you need to go return those things to where you found them. Second, you need to go back home. I bet your parents are worried sick about you!”
    “No, sir, they’re not. They don’t like me,” Henry said.
    “Oh, son, what makes you say that?”  cried the gentleman.
    “They don’t let me take my snakes in the house,' Henry replied, trying not to sound like he was going to cry.
    “Son, that’s just for your safety!" the old gentleman said in  soft tone, as he took Henry into his arms.  "They want what’s best for you. All they want is for you to have fun—and stay safe at the same time.”
    “Alright, sir," Henry said, wiping his eyes. "I’ll go home and ask ‘em if they missed me.”
    “Good for you," the old gentleman said. "By the way," he added as Henry walked down the street,  "what’s your name?”
    “Henry,” Henry replied. 
    “Just Henry?” the old gentleman said, eying him curiously. 
    “No, but that’s what I like to be called," Henry said. "Just Henry.”
    After leaving the old gentleman, Henry returned the stuff to the hardware store. The he went home. It turned out that his parents did miss him, and that they only wanted what was best for him.
    "Guess that old man was right…" Henry told himself as he lay in bed that night. "I wonder what his name is…?" and he drifted off to sleep with the question still ringing in his mind.

Now, I have decided to do a little thing on here for each week. If anyone has a picture they think is neat or a picture of something they saw, please send it to me, and I will make a story out of it. If you have an incident that happened in your life, tell Rachel what it is! She will write a story based on that. Does that sound ok? Please... send 'em in! You can go to Rachel's blog and leave her a comment telling her you have an incident that happened to you or a friend and ask her how you want her to contact her. (her blog is linked above.)

I'm looking forward to your pictures, and I'm sure Rachel's looking forward to your incidents!

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TemplateTidbits hasn't had very good business, so I thought I'd do a little advertising. *evil laugh* Don't worry, I'm just gonna' put up the bloggy button I made for it, and tell you it's got a new look. =)