Dec. 9, 2009 - Well, quite a few things I am talking about, so I can't put one thing for the title, so my title will be called this, "Well, quite a few things I am talking about, so I can't put one thing for the title, so my title will be called this, &qu

    SO, my birthday was on November 29. I haven't talked about it yet, so I will now. Let me seeeeee, what happened on my birthday...... ... ... ... okay, I remember now, sometime after church we went to my grandparents house and had turkey and pumpkin pie and everything wonderful like that. After dinner, we all went to a place called Meadow Lights where there are a bunch of Christmas lights and you take a train-like thing around to see all of the lights.

    I'm almost done with Christmas shopping, and a lot of wrapping has been done.

    Hailey and I bought VENUS FLY TRAPS! They had them at Lowe's in these clear boxes.

    Well, I think that's all that I was gonna say,

-Emma

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Dec. 9, 2009 - Sea Monsters are Very Stange Creatures, But you Wouldn't Know that Unless you Lived With One Like I Do.

Hello my friends! We've been wrapping gifts lately, and I only need to get Mom and Dads and my uncles gift now! It's only 16 days until Christmas! *confetti*

Now, I have a really big surprise, but I will not tell anyone until I can tell my best friends, which should be around Monday. The only people that know are my parents and sisters. I will give ya'll one hint, and then you'll just have to wait.

Hint:

=)

Here's a Christmas song that I absolutely love.

God Bless You,

 Taylor

Quote of the Entry

Jeremiah: You'll learn about it earlier...I mean later.

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Dec. 9, 2009 - Homeschooling Through High School ~ The Beginning of Wisdom (Part 1 of 2)

This morning I received an e-newsletter from CollegePlus!, in which an article by Lauren Bleser titled, "A Teacher Learns the Truth About Education,"  was shared.  Ms. Bleser's opening paragraph reads,

In 2002, I graduated with my Master’s degree as a reading specialist after having finished a teaching degree from the State University of New York at Oneonta. I was fast on my way to a full and busy career in the public school system when I was caught off guard by a homeschooling parent who asked if I could explain God’s mind on education. I had never really considered that before, always taking it for granted that we simply go through the system, memorize the information required, and graduate. This challenging question led me on a quest that changed the course of my life.

Bless that homeschooling parent, whomever he or she was...what a question!  It is one that every homeschooling parent should ponder.  Can you explain God's mind on education?  God's mind can be an intimidating thing to probe.  And yet, He desires us to do just that...by diving into the Scriptures. 

We are preparing our young adults, at this point in their lives, for independence.  In case you haven't taken a good, long, focused look at the world out there lately, you really ought to.  I'll warn you...it isn't pretty.  I know--I spend one hour a day, 4 days a week sitting in my local community college cafe or study lounge while waiting for my 16 year old son's German class to finish.  I do not have the "gift" of being able to simply "tune out" people's conversations.  I'm verbal.  I listen, whether I want to or not.  Words do not escape me.  The standard fare of conversation around me is typically what I would call "disgusting."  Often times the spiritual darkness that lives and thrives in this place feels stifling, oppressive, suffocating.  This time of week, I push myself to write this blog in the midst of the chatter.  Other days, I sit in front of my computer, or walk the halls, simply praying.  But I digress...

• Is your study of "Bible" in your homeschool viewed or treated by your student as a subject he must study and check off the "to do" list, just as history and math are? 
• Are you studying the Bible with a curriculum workbook that has them reading articles which explain the Bible to them, or tell them what the passages mean?  Are questions given in such a way that much of the answer is already given, with just a few "fill-in-the-blanks" required? 
• Is the time your student spends studying "Bible" going hand-in-hand with their history course?

None of these things are bad in and of themselves...it is vitally important that our students understand the Bible's role as a source of true history.  BUT...do they develop a hunger for and love of God's Word in our young people?  Do they bring about the things that our young adults are going to need in order to survive their first steps into independence--spiritual maturity, wisdom, and a consistent and close walk in obedience to Jesus Christ?

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." (Proverbs 9:10)

 "And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding." (Job 28:28)

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction." (Proverbs 1:7)

We'll end here for today, and continue next week.  May God bless you and your homeschool this week!

Lori

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Dec. 9, 2009 - Taming the Chaos ~ Bible Time in Busy Seasons

Domestic Chaos Tamer and Homeschool Mom of Five, Dell writes about home, heart and hearth.

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Tuesday 8 December 2009 - School is out

SCHOOL IS OUT FOR THE SUMMER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Dec. 8, 2009 - There I was, sitting at my computer, when suddenly...I WAS TAGGED!!!

1. How old are you? 16, 2 months, 8 days.
   
2. What color's your hair? Dark Blond with Highlights that have grown out.
   
3. What's your name? Jenna
4. What's your favorite colors? Electric Blue, Black, Spring Green, Red....
   
5. What's your favorite season? Winter, I love the snow. And there are so many fun things in the Winter.
   
6. What's your favorite holiday? Christmas!!!!
7. What's your favorite song? Well, I love so many....I really like Boomin by Toby Mac...
   
8. Favorite five bands? Superchick,Toby Mac, Audio Adrenaline, Newsboys, and Relient K.
   
9. What's your favorite movie? Do TV shows count? Cause I love NCIS. Movies....LOTR.
10. What's your favorite video game? Jack and Daxter maybe..I like so many.
11. What's your favorite TV Show? =) NCIS
    
12. Who's your favorite fictional character of all time? Kale (from a series called "The Dragon Keeper Chronicles")
13. What two fictional boys do you like? I guess Bardon (also from the Dragon Keeper Chronicles)
    
14. Which LOTR is the best? The Fellowship..or the Return Of The King.
    
15. What's your favorite book series/book? XD The Dragon Keeper Chronicles
    
16. Favorite super hero? Spiderman by far. Superman, Batman, The Green Lanturn, they're all great. But Spidy gets my vote.
    
17. Eye color? Grey-blue
18. Aliens or Monsters? Monsters
19. Fiction or Non-Fiction? Fiction!
20. How many sibs do you have? 3
21. How many nieces and/or nephews do you have? Zip. Not even one.
22. Are you the youngest,oldest or middle child? Oldest
23. What do you wanna be when you grow up/get older? A disigner.
    
24. Interested in Human boys? Sometimes..
25. Favorite animal? Tame-Cat. Not tame-Wolf.
26. What game systems do you own? PS2, PS1, Computer, Nintendo 64..IDK
    
27. Do you dance around and sing outloud in your room? Ya,when I'm in the mood.
28. Are your parents awesome? OH YES!
    
29. Are you tough or prissy? Tough...but I CAN be Prissy
    
30. Do you show sad emotions to anyone outside of your parents? Not Really..
    
31. What kind of clothing are you into? Whatever looks good =D
32. Narnia or LOTR? Both!!
33. Do you like Harry Potter and/or Twilight? Harry Potter
    
34. Do you write stories? I try.
    
35. Do you have a TV in your room? Ya...
36. Do you have a computer in your room? No, wish I did,
37. Is there any place you wish to be in right now? Only about a million.
    
38. Do you wanna drive? YES!!!!!!
39. Do you consider yourself a kind person?I guess I am sometimes.
40. Do you have weird dreams? YES!!
41. Are you friendly or anti-social? Both...I guess friendly.
    
42. Have you had any deceased relatives or pets? Ya.
43. How much do you get in your allowance? It varies
    
44. Are you on Facebook? Yep.
45. Cats or Dogs? Cats
46. Strange or normal? Strange ^_^
    
47. What's your favorite food ever? Burgers from this restaurant I wnt to with my mom and grandma. It was SO gooood!!!!
    
48. What candy? Anything Chocolate
    
49. What drink? Dr. Pepper
    
50. Are you a fan of Characters? YES!!!!
51. Are you a Christian? YES!!!!!!!!!! And PROUD of it!
    
52. Favorite celeb? IDK...

_________________

I tag

DannyD13, jesusfreak13, mustanglvr, Bwahaha, and wazzup!

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Dec. 8, 2009 -

So, I decided to re-write Towers of Iron instead of trashing it...  Here's the first re-written chapter:

Chapter 1: The Whisperer

A gentle breeze rustled the leaves on the soggy ground as the autumn moon rose over the trees and shone through gossamer spider webs hanging in the branches. A mouse stuck it’s head out of it’s hole beneath a large old oak. It blinked at the moon and looked at the Tower, it’s wet nose quivering.

To the mouse, the Tower of Noran Mir looked almost heavenly bathed in the moonlight, each of its four sides glinting with the golden images of a hand. Music and laughter drifted through its open windows, carried by the breeze into the forest. All was at peace. All was well. Had the mouse thought to, it would have smiled at the sounds of celebration. But it was frightened away.

A tall man stepped out from behind the oak tree, his face shrouded from view by a heavy black hood. A low growl rumbled from his chest as he gazed at Noran Mir. The moon glinted off his eyes; black they were, and cold as steel. They sparked with vehemence at the Tower and the sounds of happiness that came out of it.

“Soon,” he said to the Tower in a dead whisper, “Soon you will be bowing in the dust before me.” He patted the sword that hung at his side, and smiled a grim smile.

There was a slight noise somewhere behind him. He whipped about, dagger in hand, dark eyes probing the black shadows of the night. Seeing nothing, he sheathed his dagger, cast one last bitter glance at the Tower, and stealthily made his way into the deep shadows of the forest.

The path he followed was an old creek bed, which winded through the forest like a snake. Deeper and deeper it went until the man was reaching the very heart of the forest. He could just hear the sounds of harsh shouting and drunken laughter, and could see the red glow of fire up ahead, when suddenly a rough hand grabbed his shoulder from behind and he felt the sharp edge of a knife tickle his throat.

A figure stepped out of the shadows. The dokkal’s face, grey and grim, could barely be seen by the moonlight. “What’s the word?” the dokkal demanded in a deep voice.

“Shade, you idiot!” the man hissed. His captor let him go with a gasp.

“By the Snake, Elamstar!” muttered the dokkal, “We didn’t know it was you! With your hood...”

“Be glad I don’t have time to deal with you now, imbecile,” growled Elamstar. He turned and strode toward the campsite.

As usual, he was greeted by a drunken brawl. He scowled at his soldiers, but they were too busy fighting or drinking to notice him. He crossed the camp, dodging the fighting Dokkalim that came in groups or pairs, and stepping over the sprawled forms of sleeping soldiers, slowly making his way to a lone tent erected beside the great bonfire in the center of the camp.

Casting a hostile glance at the sleeping dokkal leaning against the tent with an empty wineskin in his loose grip, Elamstar lifted the heavy canvas flap and entered. He lit a small lamp hanging in the corner, revealing a table with a plate of half-eaten food on it and a cot. On this cot lay a person, dressed in a dingy blue shirt under a stiff leather jerkin. The flickering light from the lamp accentuated the sharp Annwine features of his youthful face and shined in his golden hair.

Elamstar scowled at the sleeping Annwyn. He looked so peaceful, as if he were back in his own bed in his great Fomorian palace in Linaar. “Well, Prince Mornan Fomori,” muttered Elamstar under his breath, “It seems your days of peace are finally at an end.”

A slow smile spread across Mornan Fomori’s face. “Would you mind closing the flap?” the prince asked, “There’s a draft.”

Elamstar frowned. “Stand up!” he ordered.

The Annwyn prince slowly obeyed, clearly enjoying the cloud of impatience spreading over Elamstar’s face. “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather me bow to the dust before you, like Noran Mir?”

Elamstar started at this. “You... You didn’t follow...” He rushed back to the entrance where the dokkal guard was still in a drunken slumber. “Fool!” he shouted as he shook the massive soldier to his feet. “I warned you that if you did not keep the closest watch on him, there would be consequences!”

The dokkal stumbled to the ground, wide eyed. “He escaped, sir?” he asked in a hoarse whisper as he struggled to his feet.

“That’s one thing you’ll never know,” hissed Elamstar in his soldier’s face. “Kinnos!”

A large dokkal strode away from the bonfire and grunted a salute.

Elamstar shoved the staggering dokkal toward him. “This idiot isn’t to see the light of another day,” he snarled, “See to it, and replace him with someone more trustworthy.”

“I’ll do it myself,” said Kinnos.

Elamstar studied Kinnos for a moment. There was a certain... something about him that unnerved him. Something almost noble, if a dokkal could be noble. Elamstar waved them off. “See to it.” He went back into the tent.

Mornan was smiling that mischievous smile that never failed to anger him. “I could have escaped, you know,” the prince said.

“Why didn’t you?”

“I enjoy baiting you. Your reactions are most amusing.”

Elamstar scowled. “You are not at your palace in Linaar, Mornan. You are as helpless as a rabbit in the claws of a vulture.”

Mornan tilted his head to one side, as if studying Elamstar. “You’re right,” he said finally, “You do look like a vulture.”

Elamstar regarded the Annwyn with distaste for a moment. Then he smiled slowly. “Would you like to hear the latest news of the war, my prince?”

A stoic mask immediately dropped over Mornan’s face. He sat down on the edge of the cot and stared at the flickering lamp. “Go on,” he said quietly.

“Very well,” Elamstar leaned against the table and watched Mornan’s face. “Our troops,” he said, “Have destroyed all the ships in Isai Nor. Without their sailor friends, the soldiers of Noran Risas gave up without much of a fight.”

Mornan’s face remained emotionless, but Elamstar could sense the shock of the news quickening the prince’s Annwine blood. Shock, replaced by bewilderment, and then... hope?

“Did you find what you were looking for?” asked Mornan suddenly, his blue eyes piercing into Elamstar’s.

Elamstar was taken aback at first, but then shrugged it off. “So, you’ve guessed,” he said slowly, “But, no. Your fool of a brother escaped with it.”

There was no mistaking the triumph, and pride, in Mornan’s voice. “As long as Naramir has it in his care, you can forget about taking the Sarilan.”

Elamstar shrugged. “Who cares about that sword anymore? We have a better one now.” He straightened and threw his coat back. He drew the sword that dangled at his side, it’s elegantly curved blade rasping as it came out of it’s scabbard. Elamstar held it almost worshipfully in the dim lamplight. “Do you know it, my prince?” he asked in a low voice, his eyes never leaving the polished steel blade. “Can you feel it’s power? Can you hear it screaming for a battle? For death?” His eyes narrowed at Mornan. “It’s bite is hungry, it’s fire is unforgiving. Do you know it’s name, Mornan?”

Mornan gazed at the shimmering blade. He saw how easily the hand of Elamstar gripped it’s handle. “Rimastan,” he said reverently, “The sword of King Dore.”

“Rimastan,” said Elamstar, “The sword of Elamstar.” He sheathed the sword and leaned against the table. “Do you realize the gravity of it all? Rimastan is in the hand of the one it otherwise would have fought against.”

“I assume you are thinking of the prophecy of Seer Ash?” Mornan asked.



“That if Sarilan and Rimastan fought against each other the Towers of Iron will fall?”

Mornan narrowed his eyes at Elamstar. “Surely you don’t believe that,” he said, “Seer Ash was a madman!”

“Was he?” Elamstar smiled, “Not a nice thing to say about my great-grandfather.”

He continued to speak, but Mornan couldn’t hear him. The detail of the tent, Elamstar’s face, and everything else blurred and blended together in confusion. Mornan instinctively leaned back and let the feeling take him.

Elamstar stopped speaking. His eyes narrowed as he saw Mornan’s eyes close. Then uncertainty gave way to fear. He realized with shock that Mornan was passing into salimin, a trancelike state in which the Annwine people were said to receive visions. Elamstar grimaced. Visions from... Lor.

Elamstar spat and leaned against the table, waiting for Mornan to finish speaking with his god.

Elamstar.

Elamstar smiled. He closed his eyes and concentrated. “Yes Master?”

All is ready. You need to attack now.

Elamstar nodded. He opened his eyes and stood.

“You will fall.”

Startled, Elamstar looked at Mornan. The prince had come out of his vision and was smiling up at him.

“Oh, yes,” said Mornan slowly, as if savoring each syllable, “You will surely fall. The strength of Lor is on our side.”

Elamstar struck Mornan across the face with the back of his hand. “Don’t you say that name again,” he snarled. He turned on his heel and strode out of the tent, leaving a smiling Annwyn prince behind.
“Kinnos,” he growled to his general, “Is all ready for the attack?”
“All is ready,” said Kinnos, his voice showing no emotion, “The troops are assembled just outside the wood, as you ordered.”
“Then,” said Elamstar, his voice jubilant, “Order the advance.”
“Yes, sir.” The dokkal drew his scimitar and lunged through the camp, followed by half a dozen soldiers.
They ran down the winding path faster than any horse could have, and soon they burst out into the clearing. Kinnos laughed a grim laugh as the rush of the impending battle swept over him. He lifted his great battle horn he carried at his side and blew a resounding blast. With a tremendous shout the Dokkalim troops exploded out of the darkness of the forest and swept over the clearing toward the walls of Noran Mir. Overhead great round stones hurtled through the night sky and burst against the stone battlements. Kinnos saw them and grinned wildly. The catapults were doing their work.
Inside, General Nimoran leapt up from his seat in the Great Hall. “Everyone to the walls!” he commanded. There was confusion as tables and chairs were overturned and people scrambled for the doors. Men hurried everywhere, herding the women and children deeper into the Tower and seizing weapons and armor.
General Nimoran stood on the wall, staring in horror at the great mass of Dokkalim charging the walls. A flaming thing hurtled towards him from the blackness of the night, roaring through the air.
Mornan opened the tent flap, just enough to peek out. The camp was almost empty, only a few drunken Dokkalim sprawled out around the diminishing fire. A slow smile spread across his face. He stepped out, keeping to the shadows as much as he could as he crossed the camp. No voice called out, no pursuing footsteps were heard... And he ran.

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Tuesday 8 December 2009 - Sup?

Okay, so I said I wasn't doing TOI anymore... I lied.  I'm re-writing it!  Here's the re-written first chapter.

Chapter One: The Whisperer 

A gentle breeze rustled the leaves on the soggy ground as the autumn moon rose over the trees and shone through gossamer spider webs hanging in the branches. A mouse stuck it’s head out of it’s hole beneath a large old oak. It blinked at the moon and looked at the Tower, it’s wet nose quivering.

To the mouse, the Tower of Noran Mir looked almost heavenly bathed in the moonlight, each of its four sides glinting with the golden images of a hand. Music and laughter drifted through its open windows, carried by the breeze into the forest. All was at peace. All was well. Had the mouse thought to, it would have smiled at the sounds of celebration. But it was frightened away.

A tall man stepped out from behind the oak tree, his face shrouded from view by a heavy black hood. A low growl rumbled from his chest as he gazed at Noran Mir. The moon glinted off his eyes; black they were, and cold as steel. They sparked with vehemence at the Tower and the sounds of happiness that came out of it.

“Soon,” he said to the Tower in a dead whisper, “Soon you will be bowing in the dust before me.” He patted the sword that hung at his side, and smiled a grim smile.

There was a slight noise somewhere behind him. He whipped about, dagger in hand, dark eyes probing the black shadows of the night. Seeing nothing, he sheathed his dagger, cast one last bitter glance at the Tower, and stealthily made his way into the deep shadows of the forest.

The path he followed was an old creek bed, which winded through the forest like a snake. Deeper and deeper it went until the man was reaching the very heart of the forest. He could just hear the sounds of harsh shouting and drunken laughter, and could see the red glow of fire up ahead, when suddenly a rough hand grabbed his shoulder from behind and he felt the sharp edge of a knife tickle his throat.

A figure stepped out of the shadows. The dokkal’s face, grey and grim, could barely be seen by the moonlight. “What’s the word?” the dokkal demanded in a deep voice.

“Shade, you idiot!” the man hissed. His captor let him go with a gasp.

“By the Snake, Elamstar!” muttered the dokkal, “We didn’t know it was you! With your hood...”

“Be glad I don’t have time to deal with you now, imbecile,” growled Elamstar. He turned and strode toward the campsite.

As usual, he was greeted by a drunken brawl. He scowled at his soldiers, but they were too busy fighting or drinking to notice him. He crossed the camp, dodging the fighting Dokkalim that came in groups or pairs, and stepping over the sprawled forms of sleeping soldiers, slowly making his way to a lone tent erected beside the great bonfire in the center of the camp.

Casting a hostile glance at the sleeping dokkal leaning against the tent with an empty wineskin in his loose grip, Elamstar lifted the heavy canvas flap and entered. He lit a small lamp hanging in the corner, revealing a table with a plate of half-eaten food on it and a cot. On this cot lay a person, dressed in a dingy blue shirt under a stiff leather jerkin. The flickering light from the lamp accentuated the sharp Annwine features of his youthful face and shined in his golden hair.

Elamstar scowled at the sleeping Annwyn. He looked so peaceful, as if he were back in his own bed in his great Fomorian palace in Linaar. “Well, Prince Mornan Fomori,” muttered Elamstar under his breath, “It seems your days of peace are finally at an end.”

A slow smile spread across Mornan Fomori’s face. “Would you mind closing the flap?” the prince asked, “There’s a draft.”

Elamstar frowned. “Stand up!” he ordered.

The Annwyn prince slowly obeyed, clearly enjoying the cloud of impatience spreading over Elamstar’s face. “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather me bow to the dust before you, like Noran Mir?”

Elamstar started at this. “You... You didn’t follow...” He rushed back to the entrance where the dokkal guard was still in a drunken slumber. “Fool!” he shouted as he shook the massive soldier to his feet. “I warned you that if you did not keep the closest watch on him, there would be consequences!”

The dokkal stumbled to the ground, wide eyed. “He escaped, sir?” he asked in a hoarse whisper as he struggled to his feet.

“That’s one thing you’ll never know,” hissed Elamstar in his soldier’s face. “Kinnos!”

A large dokkal strode away from the bonfire and grunted a salute.

Elamstar shoved the staggering dokkal toward him. “This idiot isn’t to see the light of another day,” he snarled, “See to it, and replace him with someone more trustworthy.”

“I’ll do it myself,” said Kinnos.

Elamstar studied Kinnos for a moment. There was a certain... something about him that unnerved him. Something almost noble, if a dokkal could be noble. Elamstar waved them off. “See to it.” He went back into the tent.

Mornan was smiling that mischievous smile that never failed to anger him. “I could have escaped, you know,” the prince said.

“Why didn’t you?”

“I enjoy baiting you. Your reactions are most amusing.”

Elamstar scowled. “You are not at your palace in Linaar, Mornan. You are as helpless as a rabbit in the claws of a vulture.”

Mornan tilted his head to one side, as if studying Elamstar. “You’re right,” he said finally, “You do look like a vulture.”

Elamstar regarded the Annwyn with distaste for a moment. Then he smiled slowly. “Would you like to hear the latest news of the war, my prince?”

A stoic mask immediately dropped over Mornan’s face. He sat down on the edge of the cot and stared at the flickering lamp. “Go on,” he said quietly.

“Very well,” Elamstar leaned against the table and watched Mornan’s face. “Our troops,” he said, “Have destroyed all the ships in Isai Nor. Without their sailor friends, the soldiers of Noran Risas gave up without much of a fight.”

Mornan’s face remained emotionless, but Elamstar could sense the shock of the news quickening the prince’s Annwine blood. Shock, replaced by bewilderment, and then... hope?

“Did you find what you were looking for?” asked Mornan suddenly, his blue eyes piercing into Elamstar’s.

Elamstar was taken aback at first, but then shrugged it off. “So, you’ve guessed,” he said slowly, “But, no. Your fool of a brother escaped with it.”

There was no mistaking the triumph, and pride, in Mornan’s voice. “As long as Naramir has it in his care, you can forget about taking the Sarilan.”

Elamstar shrugged. “Who cares about that sword anymore? We have a better one now.” He straightened and threw his coat back. He drew the sword that dangled at his side, it’s elegantly curved blade rasping as it came out of it’s scabbard. Elamstar held it almost worshipfully in the dim lamplight. “Do you know it, my prince?” he asked in a low voice, his eyes never leaving the polished steel blade. “Can you feel it’s power? Can you hear it screaming for a battle? For death?” His eyes narrowed at Mornan. “It’s bite is hungry, it’s fire is unforgiving. Do you know it’s name, Mornan?”

Mornan gazed at the shimmering blade. He saw how easily the hand of Elamstar gripped it’s handle. “Rimastan,” he said reverently, “The sword of King Dore.”

“Rimastan,” said Elamstar, “The sword of Elamstar.” He sheathed the sword and leaned against the table. “Do you realize the gravity of it all? Rimastan is in the hand of the one it otherwise would have fought against.”

“I assume you are thinking of the prophecy of Seer Ash?” Mornan asked.



“That if Sarilan and Rimastan fought against each other the Towers of Iron will fall?”

Mornan narrowed his eyes at Elamstar. “Surely you don’t believe that,” he said, “Seer Ash was a madman!”

“Was he?” Elamstar smiled, “Not a nice thing to say about my great-grandfather.”

He continued to speak, but Mornan couldn’t hear him. The detail of the tent, Elamstar’s face, and everything else blurred and blended together in confusion. Mornan instinctively leaned back and let the feeling take him.

Elamstar stopped speaking. His eyes narrowed as he saw Mornan’s eyes close. Then uncertainty gave way to fear. He realized with shock that Mornan was passing into salimin, a trancelike state in which the Annwine people were said to receive visions. Elamstar grimaced. Visions from... Lor.

Elamstar spat and leaned against the table, waiting for Mornan to finish speaking with his god.

Elamstar.

Elamstar smiled. He closed his eyes and concentrated. “Yes Master?”

All is ready. You need to attack now.

Elamstar nodded. He opened his eyes and stood.

“You will fall.”

Startled, Elamstar looked at Mornan. The prince had come out of his vision and was smiling up at him.

“Oh, yes,” said Mornan slowly, as if savoring each syllable, “You will surely fall. The strength of Lor is on our side.”

Elamstar struck Mornan across the face with the back of his hand. “Don’t you say that name again,” he snarled. He turned on his heel and strode out of the tent, leaving a smiling Annwyn prince behind.
“Kinnos,” he growled to his general, “Is all ready for the attack?”
“All is ready,” said Kinnos, his voice showing no emotion, “The troops are assembled just outside the wood, as you ordered.”
“Then,” said Elamstar, his voice jubilant, “Order the advance.”
“Yes, sir.” The dokkal drew his scimitar and lunged through the camp, followed by half a dozen soldiers.
They ran down the winding path faster than any horse could have, and soon they burst out into the clearing. Kinnos laughed a grim laugh as the rush of the impending battle swept over him. He lifted his great battle horn he carried at his side and blew a resounding blast. With a tremendous shout the Dokkalim troops exploded out of the darkness of the forest and swept over the clearing toward the walls of Noran Mir. Overhead great round stones hurtled through the night sky and burst against the stone battlements. Kinnos saw them and grinned wildly. The catapults were doing their work.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Inside, General Nimoran leapt up from his seat in the Great Hall. “Everyone to the walls!” he commanded. There was confusion as tables and chairs were overturned and people scrambled for the doors. Men hurried everywhere, herding the women and children deeper into the Tower and seizing weapons and armor.
General Nimoran stood on the wall, staring in horror at the great mass of Dokkalim charging the walls. A flaming thing hurtled towards him from the blackness of the night, roaring through the air.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Mornan opened the tent flap, just enough to peek out. The camp was almost empty, only a few drunken Dokkalim sprawled out around the diminishing fire. A slow smile spread across his face. He stepped out, keeping to the shadows as much as he could as he crossed the camp. No voice called out, no pursuing footsteps were heard... And he ran.

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Dec. 8, 2009 - Kitchen Moments ~ Cooking Biblical Foods

I found a very interesting website when researching this week's topic:

Cooking with the Bible

When you go to a recipe at this site, such as Elizabeth's Carob Cake, you will find the recipe, a photo, and also tabs that will take you to a Bible Reference page and the History page for that particular food.  

The site also has a  meals section  with links to recipes for each dish. 

I plan to spend more time at this site in the coming days, and perhaps take a look at the cookbook if I can find it at a local library. 

Another book that I find helpful in planning Biblical celebrations is Celebrating Biblical Feasts In Your Home or Church by Martha Zimmerman. 

I hope these sources help you to add some tasty foods in with your Biblical studies.

Blessings,

Catherine

 Catherine Love lives in the heart of Texas with her husband Carl, and their 3 daughters, Sarah, Hannah, and Cana.  They enjoy cooking, gardening, and learning new things as they seek to live a lifestyle of learning together as a family.  You can read Catherine's Kitchen Adventures and more on her blog- Seeds of Love.

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Monday 7 December 2009 - Shadows Over Teralou~Chapter Two

Once upon a time, there was a village boy. Although we really shouldn't call him a "boy", he was more of a young man, being at the age of 16, and all. And we really shouldn't call him a man, meaning human, seeing how he was an elf. He had been born in a tree hut deep in elf-country, in Teralou. His father worked as a carpenter, and made almost the finest furnishings you would ever hope to see. His mother took care of their hut. He grew up without any siblings, and didn't have very many friends, aside from his horse, Leon. Although, he did have one very powerful and loving Friend: his Best Friend, and True Father. He loved to please Him any way he could. The young Elf loved his life in his village; and that is why, when that fateful day came, it took all of David's courage and faith in his Father to do what he must.

Sam

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