Writing Challenge #5

Are you ready for another writing challenge? Here are the rules:

1) I give you a "moral." (See below)
2) You write a 500-600 word story that reflects this moral.
3) Send it to me via the "Send Me an Email" gadget on the right sidebar of my blog. (Or just through my email if you have my address.) Please include your name or an alias. Thanks!
4) The due date is March 5, next Saturday. Shortly thereafter I will post the winners.

Have fun! That is the most important part of this contest. Don't be afraid to come up with something strange, that's what makes it fun. Just enjoy being creative! Now for the moral. . .

Don't jump to conclusions.

I'm very curious to see what you come up with for that one. Have fun!

Favorite Books

Awhile back I was tagged to answer a few questions about my favorite books/series/authors, etc. I'd love to hear your answers to these questions too! Enjoy!
 

What are your top two favorite books?

Makilien Trilogy

I don't think that I could pick—honestly. But if I had to choose some of my favorites would be The Pirate Daughter's Promise, Every Tear, Truth, Courage, and Trust, all by Molly Evangeline. Also Heartbreak Trail, by Susan Marlow and a not-yet-published book by a friend. (You know who you are :D)

What are your top two favorite series?

Probably the Makilien Trilogy by Molly Evangeline and the Circle C books by Susan K. Marlow. However, there are many, many series that rank high on my list of favorites. They would include the whole Black Stallion and Island Stallion series by Walter Farley and the Pirates and Faith series by Molly Evangeline. I also really like the Golden Filly series by Lauraine Snelling. The Chronicles of Narnia are also high on my list with the Left Behind series.

Who is your favorite fictional character?

Pirates and Faith Series

Other than Amber or Maddie, the main characters in two of my own stories, it would have to be either Andrea Carter from the Circle C series mentioned above, or Makilien from the Makilien Trilogy also mentioned above.

If any one of your favorite books could be made into a movie which one would you want it to be?

I would personally love to direct a movie of the Makilien Trilogy myself (then I would be certain that it would be made right!) The others that I would really like to see would be good movies of each of the books in the Chronicles of Narnia.

What is your favorite genre to read?

I don't have any one particular favorites. I like reading contemporary, mystery, somewhat fantasy (to the extent of The Lord of the Rings). Mostly, I love adventure and if I can find that in a historical fiction novel, a well-written biography in novel form, or anywhere else, I'll read it!

Do you have a favorite author?

This is a DANGEROUS question to ask a book lover. Very, very dangerous. So, the answer is no. I do not have A favorite author. I have many. So, now you get my list . . . hang on tight and don't fall asleep on me!

1. I have to start with my Grandpa, Randall Reinstedt. He writes fascinating California history books. And no, I am not just being partial. I really do enjoy what he writes!
2. I enjoy anything by Jerry B. Jenkins
3. A new author that I discovered and LOVE is Molly Evangeline, aka. Jaye L. Knight
4. Lauraine Snelling
5. Susan K. Marlow
6. Walter Farley
7. Jesseca Dawn
8. Rebekah Eddy
9. Dandi Daley Mackall
10. Wendy Lawton

So there you are with some of my all time favorite authors! Of course, I could go on to list many, many more but that would make this post way too long. Thanks for hanging with me!

Is there a book that you can hardly wait for it to come out?

Well, for starters, The Silent Blade, and A Question of Honor, by Jesseca Dawn. Also, the fourth book in the Circle C Milestones series by Susan K. Marlow. I am also eager for the third book in the Ilyon Chronicles series by Jaye L. Knight.
 

What was one of your favorite childhood books?

The many books written by Bill Peet. They are fun childrens' stories mostly about animals. Another book that was special to my mom and me was "The Kissing Hand."

What was one of you favorite books when you were late elementary to middle school age?

I really like/liked the High Hurdles series by Lauraine Snelling. I read the entire 10 book series twice! I also like/liked the Trixie Belden series, Red Rock Mysteries, and the Wormling series in addition to the Winnie the Horse Gentler series.

What is your favorite book of the Bible?
I really like 1 and 2 Timothy because it is a reminder to me that even young people can do great things for God!

Thanks for reading, Everyone! I hope that you have a great rest of the week! I'd love to hear your answers to these questions. Do you enjoy reading any of the above authors/books/series mentioned? If you haven't heard of some of these authors, I highly recommend them. God bless you!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day, Friends! I hope that you have had (and continue to have) a wonderful day! Last year I did a post about the meaning behind Valentine's Day. To read it, click HERE.

While you celebrate with family and loved ones, please remember the greatest act of love ever done for any of us. God gave us His only son, who was perfect, to die a horrible death to save us. That is the greatest love of all. Come on, you all know the verse, say it with me. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

Please take some time to reflect on a few verses about the importance of love that I have placed below.

1 Corinthians 13 "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love."

John 14:15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments."

Galatians 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."

1 Corinthians 16:14 " Let all that you do be done in love."

Mark 12:30 "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength."

Please take some time to focus on these and enjoy the rest of your day. Happy Valentine's Day!   

Antarctica Journal Entry—Part 3 (The Conclusion!)

I feel terrible for keeping you waiting this long for part three. However, I finally got it done. Enjoy!

August 1916—South Georgia Island

I am writing with a smile on my face for the first time in a long time. Finally, I am safe. Finally, we are safe! Yes, despite all odds against us, we have survived more struggles than the average person would in three lifetimes. I also am writing with a smile because I know that very soon I will stand in my own home holding my wife and watching my children play. I am so very eager to see how they have grown the last two years in my extended absence. I do pray that they have fared well.

Now, I know that I have not written in a very long time. Part of this was due to the busyness of daily survival but the other reason was due to a nasty case of frostbite in my fingertips that needed to heal before I could properly use my fingers again. Although I would prefer not to relive this experience, I shall record it for future generations to learn of all that we endured on this fateful trip to the south.

My last entry left us stranded on Elephant Island with Captain Shackleton having just devised a plan of escape. As you can see by comparing the two dates of these entries, escape was a long time in coming. We landed on Elephant Island in April and I write now in August.

When we gathered around the Captain to hear his plan, I was shocked at what he said. Then again, I suppose that I knew it would have to be a drastic action. I just did not fully comprehend what that would mean. He revealed to us that the only way for survival is for him and five other men to climb aboard a twenty-two foot vessel and cross the treacherous Drake Passage—a distance of 870 iceberg and hurricane wind-filled miles! Now, can you imagine my surprise when he called my name among the five who would make this journey with him? I was shocked, and a bit afraid. But I knew that I must go if the Captain felt I would be of service to him. Despite my fear, I was indeed honored.

Just days later, we bid very emotional good-byes to those remaining on the island and set off. It was as though a cloud of fear hung over us. No one spoke. The fate of all remaining had been placed in our hands. We all knew the odds were against us surviving this two-week long journey, especially considering that the vessel we traveled in was hardly fit for this travel. The treacherous Drake Passage is infamous for its hurricane-like winds and cluttered with icebergs. Yes, the chances of survival were slim, but it was everyone's only chance.

The six of us took turns steering, rowing, bailing out the icy water, and scraping ice from our boat. On top of it all, we attempted to get at least some sleep. This was certainly the worst ride of my life. We all were soaked by the first hour on the sea with no chance of drying before more water drenched us. Conditions were horrible. Even by night we had to continue onward. Sometimes the moon shone; sometimes it did not.

Finally, we rested our eyes upon the rocky shores of South Georgia Island. Before we could go ashore, however, we had to find a beach not filled with dangerous rocks. When we did land, we had no time to rest or recover from the ocean's fury though we were dehydrated and exhausted. Even Captain Shackleton barely had enough energy to say more than “We've done it.” But our task was yet to be completed. We had yet to find help for those left on Elephant Island. The Captain chose me and one other to travel with him on the last leg of our journey, leaving three behind with the weather-beaten vessel. The three of us went on without taking time even to relish in the feel of standing on real land in search of the whaling station on the far side of the island.

We traveled up many a glacier in attempts to cross, but more often than not had to retrace our steps to find another way. Up and down, up and down, up and down. This was far more than a marathon, this was a race to survive with our screaming muscles and delirious state. Finally, when we were out of food and nearly frozen, the Captain gave us a plan that seemed even more impossible than what we had faced thus far. To avoid freezing to death during the night, we tied ourselves together with rope and slid down a glacier. The risk of hitting a boulder or flying off a ridge was great. When we reached the bottom we couldn't believe that we were alive and relatively unharmed. Shortly thereafter, we heard the sound of a whaling station's wake-up call. Relieved but exhausted, we stumbled toward it. For the three of us, the journey was over. We were little more than alive—but we were alive. We were safe at last!

But there were still the three men that we left with the boat and the twenty-two men who remained on Elephant Island that needed to be rescued. The Captain tried three times to send a rescue boat to those men, but storms and impassable waters sent them back. On the fourth try just days ago, the rescue crew got through and found all twenty-two men . . . all alive! They have returned only a day ago and have told their tale. It is a miracle that they survived on the island for 128 days huddled under the two lifeboats that we left there. It is only by God's grace. Praise be to Him!

Though we did not come close to meeting our original goal of crossing the continent of Antarctica, our priorities quickly changed near the start of our mission. Our goal became to survive. This goal we achieved. Every single original member of this crew survived the journey of a lifetime and are starting on our way home. Yet, it was only by a miracle!

Each of us crew members have agreed that Captain Shackleton was that miracle. He is the greatest leader that ever came on God's earth, bar none. Mostly, I am grateful that God gave me the strength to remain faithful to the Captain to the end of this journey. I will always praise him!

And now you can understand my overwhelming joy and gratitude. I am safe, healthy, and soon on my way to seeing my family again. I am indebted forever to the wonderful Captain who is the only one who could have gotten us all our alive. Also, I believe that through this entire ordeal, my faith in God has been strengthened mightily. If He can bring twenty-eight men through the worst conditions imagined, He can do anything and I will always be full of gratitude to him. Praise be always given unto Him!

And that's the conclusion! What did you think? I'd love to hear your thoughts! I hope that you really enjoyed reading it—I had a lot of fun writing it. Would you like to read more short stories that I write? More journal entries from different events similar to this? Thanks for giving me your feedback and thanks for reading!

January Highlights 2016

Hello, everyone! While I work on writing the concluding part of the journal entries, I wanted to share with you a few highlights of my January.

The side of our boxsled that we put up at church.

On January 8-10, I went on a trip with my youth group to Hume Lake Christian Camps. I had a great time hanging out with my friends and in chapel. The theme this year was "I Am." This refers to God and His holiness. The speaker used Isaiah 6 to explain it. As far as the activities, I enjoyed ice skating and going down Hume's very long tube run. On Saturday night they held the "Boxsled Blitz." (Explained in previous post about Hume last year.) Basically, you build a sled out of only cardboard and duct tape and take it down the tube run (with a jump added in) at around 11 at night when the snow is iced over. The winner gets to take home the "golden mailbox" and add something to it, then bring it back the next year for the next winner to get and take home. Previous to this year, the SAME CHURCH had won it for 8 YEARS!!! However, our little country church broke their streak and brought it home with a fire engine that held 10 high schoolers—me included! (I got the idea for the sled because of the Rough Fire that was up there.) That was really awesome!

Then . . . school started back up. But that actually hasn't been too hard. Most of the time I enjoy school. :D So far, I've been able to keep up (mostly.)

Last week we took off school to take our annual family winter trip. A good friend came to our house to visit and then watch it for us while we were gone. We went to Shaver Lake where we got lots of family time, snow, and were able to visit with the friends that we have made there over the years. We were blessed to use some cross-country skis for two days. One day we went on trails for about three miles and the other day we made our own trails through five feet of powder—TRUE cross-country! We also went sledding, tried to snowboard, (I ACTUALLY didn't do too badly . . .) and filmed a hilarious family movie. The snow was beautiful and I had a wonderful time.

Selfie! (I think I look like an eskimo...) :D

For the most part, January was a very relaxing month. I read many more books this month than I had in a long time. In all, I read ten books:

1. Makilien Trilogy: Courage, Molly Evangeline (478 pages)
2. Makilien Trilogy: Trust, Molly Evangeline (331 pages)
3. Circle C Milestones: Heartbreak Trail, Susan K. Marlow (166 pages)
4. 'Nama Beach High: New Girl in Town, Nancy Rue (170 pages)
5. Pirates and Faith: The Pirate Daughter's Promise, Molly Evangeline (217 pages)
6. Pirates and Faith: Every Tear, Molly Evangeline (458 pages)
7. Circle C Milestones: The Last Ride, Susan K. Marlow (175 pages)
8. Red Rock Mysteries: Instant Menace, Jerry B. Jenkins and Chris Fabry (234 pages)
9. Red Rock Mysteries: Escaping Darkness, Jerry B. Jenkins and Chris Fabry (218 pages)
10. Uncle Tom's Cabin, Harriet Beecher Stowe (499 pages)

In all, that's a whopping 2,946 pages! I don't think I've ever read that many pages in one month! But it felt really good! I enjoyed all the books. Well, all of them but Uncle Tom's Cabin. That one I read for English class. :( However, my favorites of these books was Heartbreak Trail, and the books by Molly Evangeline. Check her out—she is one of my absolute FAVORITE authors! She's really good.

So, how'd your January go? What highlights did you have? What books did you read? Let me know! Have a fantastic February, friends!

Antarctica Journal Entry—Part 2

Here is part 2 of the fictional journal entry I wrote that ya'll have been waiting so patiently for. To read part 1, click HERE. Now, without further ado, here you go! Enjoy!

April 1916—Elephant Island

Since my last journal entry in last November, much has befallen me and my partners. Life has treated us harshly and it is a miracle we are still alive. After that fateful day when the Endurance shattered and sank, we have been using every ounce of strength for mere survival. For months we have struggled to reach somewhere—anywhere that is solid ground. Our camps have been made upon ice flows on the Weddell Sea. Sometimes, we awaken during the night to the ice splitting beneath our camp and we all must hurry to break camp and get on the same side of the ice lest we be split up and certainly die.

During the days, we have little time to rest. We must trek forward when we can, even though we are cold, exhausted, and hungry. Many times our boots fill with snow and threaten to freeze our feet stiff. Every step is an effort. Were it not for the firm and steadfast leadership of Captain Shackleton, we might give up in despair. However, thank God for the man who does not let us give up. He pushes us on through thick and thin, exhaustion and cold, hunger and fear. He has kept our hope alive, though it often is meager. Some days we have more hope than others, but always we have an inward struggle that threatens to overwhelm us. I suspect even the Captain has his own difficult moments though he tries hard to conceal it. It is such as blessing to have him lead us. Without him, I know that by now we would not have survived even this far.

Many days we have difficulties finding food. It is wonderful when we can eat seal, fish, or penguin. Yet more often than not we cannot find any form of food that is trapped behind the ice. On days such as these, it sorrows my heart to admit that we have had to eat our faithful dogs. No matter what, our rations are little and we are constantly hungry. Sometimes it is a wonder to me that some of the men have not resorted to sneaking food but I am sure that it is because of Captain Shackleton's firm hand. He has made it very clear that if we are to survive this time of hardship, we must stick together.

Six days ago, we spotted the ice breaking up. Some might think this a relief to us, but it is not so. With no other way off Antarctica, we had to drop the lifeboats in the water and brave the icy waves and icebergs. We knew that this might well have been the end for us if a boat were to be sliced open by ice. Even the freezing waters that splashed upon us could have frozen us to death. Most certainly, every part of our bodies felt frozen but we rowed on for many sleepless nights. We pushed onward as we knew that this was our only chance of survival. Our frost-bitten fingers grew painful blisters—had we been able to feel them. Even these blisters were frozen! For several days, I thought that we would die of, if nothing else, the cold water drenching us.

However, after five days being tossed about on the sea, our hope was once more restored by the sight of land! True, it was uninhabited, but it was solid ground! It is called Elephant Island. It is the first solid ground we have set foot on in 497 days! This is where I currently write from. We arrived yesterday. Captain Shackleton and a few of the men are trying to devise a plan for rescue but it seems that the treacherous Drake Passage stands in our way. Many of the men are discouraged, including myself.

I pray that the Lord has not brought us this far only to die, but maybe He has. I continue to pray daily for our rescue, safety, and that each of us may return to our families unharmed before too long. The longing I have for my wife and children is overwhelming. My heart aches to think about them. I miss them more than words can express. How I hope that we will soon be reunited!

I did not realize until this moment that the men are gathering around the Captain. Hopefully he has a plan. I will do my best to record the going-ons of these next few weeks, but I know that we will be having much difficulty and may not have time to write. Perhaps I will manage to record some later, but now I must go.

And that concludes part two! I hope that you enjoyed it. The concluding part will come soon— stay tuned! Let me know what you think and if you have studied the various south pole expeditions. Would you like to see more posts of this sort? Have a good evening!

November 21, 1915

Do any of you know the "significance" of that date? In history class I studied various expeditions to the south pole. As an activity, I wrote a fictional journal entry of a crew member on the mission to be the first to cross Antarctica. As I wrote it, I thought that you might enjoy reading it. Remember, it is a FICTIONAL crew member, but the event is real as are all statistics. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Enjoy!

November 21, 1915—Antarctica

Today is a day that I will never forget. I have experienced such emotions as have filled me with turmoil. I wish that I could have written more in the past months but, alas, my days have been too busy. Perhaps I should explain. About a year ago, Sir Ernest Shackleton sent out an invitation to a dangerous mission—being the first to cross Antarctica. Being my usual adventurous self, I responded with much enthusiasm. Maybe too much. Shackleton must have liked what I wrote for he recruited me to be among twenty-six other crewmen. At this point, of course, I was thrilled and bid my wife, son, and two young daughters good-bye. This has been much more adventure than I ever bargained for. I know that my dear wife and children must be worrying, and for good reason. She begged me not to go, but I persuaded her with the promise of my safe return. That was a promise I wish I had never made. I have never yet broken a promise, and I will do all in my power to not break this one, but I now realize it is not a guarantee.

I set sail with twenty-six other crewmen and Captain Shackleton on his ship, the Endurance. We set out with high hopes, spirits, and eagerness. At first all was well. I enjoyed seeing the new sights and experiencing life aboard the Endurance. However, the closer we drew to Antarctica, the more our spirits were dampened and our hearts grew heavy as we processed how dangerous this mission would be. A sense of foreboding doom seemed to hang around the ship as the temperatures dropped. Before long, men standing at their posts grew cold and every effort was made to bring warmth to the ship. Despite the cold, we continued to sail toward Antarctica. Then it came about that as we traveled slowly onward the ice became encased around the Endurance. She was stuck fast. In a sort of trance, we gathered our things and disembarked with hopes that the ice would soon give up her icy hold upon our ship. Very suddenly we all realized that this journey would not be as easy as first anticipated. That was in January. Now we all know just how difficult and dangerous this trek is. For ten months we lived off of our supplies and camped on the nearby ice flows facing firsthand the harsh elements.

Then today it happened. Our worst fears were realized. After hoping and praying for ten months that the Endurance would be freed from the ice, she was. However, it was not in the least what we had hoped for. She was released . . . into the icy depths of the sea. We all watched as it happened. One minute she was there like she had been for the past ten months, then she wasn't. With enormous creaks, cracks, and groans, she finally yielded to the intense pressure of the shifting ice. Within ten minutes of these horrible noises having first begun, her four-foot-thick shell exploded into a thousand pieces. We all watched in horror as she sank below the ice, never to be seen again. I looked over the shoulder of a fellow crew member who also wrote about the event from his eyes. One line he wrote in particular caught my attention. He said that the ship “carried us so far and so well and then put forth the bravest fight that ever a ship had fought before yielding to the remorseless pack.” This touched my heart so that I nearly gave in to tears of hopelessness and fear, but did not. Frozen teardrops on a mustache are most uncomfortable. They often freeze even before they meet my mustache.

So here we are. We have plenty of supplies to survive for now, but who knows how long it may take for us to be rid of this frozen kingdom? If we ever do. We have only three life boats, a few dogsleds, and provisions. As I mentioned before, I have experienced a multitude of varied emotions today, and rightly so. At times I am hopeless, knowing the chances of all twenty-eight of us escaping here alive. But then my hope is restored by a small margin when I remember that we are under the good leadership of Captain Shackleton. Yet there is always the gnawing horror of seeing how easily the Endurance sank and how we are at complete mercy of the weather. I am afraid. I fear that I will never see my wife and children again. That my mates will never be reunited with their loved ones. Furthermore, I fear how I will die. If I die in this desolate place, I know that it will be slow and painful. I also am afraid of how my death will affect my wife and children. They will have to face the world without a husband and father to love, care for, and provide for them. The world can be a very harsh place for those who are left vulnerable. I feel like a wretch for ever leaving my family only for the experience and adventure of being among the first to cross the continent. I wish with all my heart that I was back at home in front of our fireplace in our lovely cottage with my children tugging at my mustache, my wife smiling from the entry-way, and the smells of a wonderful home-cooked supper wafting through the house. But here I am. Stuck in perhaps the coldest place on the planet at the mercy of the Weddell Sea. My only real hope is in Christ Jesus. To Him I plead for mercy. Him I will honor till the end.

I know that in the coming days I will have little, if any, time to record the happenings of this trek. My life will be a battle to survive. Finding food is my primary concern, but disease and the cold are also high dangers. If I should die before leaving this continent, and this entry found encased in frozen ice, I pray that it will make its way to my wife, that she may know how I longed to apologize for leaving her. My dear wife, though I pray that you will never have to read this without me by your side, if you should, please understand that I love you dearly.

Writing Challenge #4 Entries

A round of applause to my three entrants: Kaitlyn K, Jesseca Dawn, and Faith P. Thank you! Each of your entries were wonderful! Every one did a great job expressing just how "appearances are often deceiving." Keep your eyes out for the next writing challenge!

Kaitlyn, your entry was very different from what I expected. I like it! Thanks for adding a different and not as common twist!

    It was the day after Christmas, and I woke up to the worst cold of my  life-- well, I suppose that’s what I would call all the bad colds I’ve had.
    I read my devotions while sitting on the furnace vent, attempting to warm  myself-- not a very easy job-- and then headed to the table to eat a warm  (but not so tasty, in my opinion) breakfast of oatmeal.
    “Morning, Kate,” Mom said, looking up from the sink, where she was filling  the coffeepot with water.  “Did you sleep well?”
    I shrugged.  “As well as can be expected with a nasty cold.”
    Mom raised her eyebrows. “Didn’t I tell you to take some medicine as soon  as you felt that cold coming?”
    I nodded and sighed.  “Yes, you did.  Do I really have to eat this  stuff?”  I complained as I stared down at my bowl.
    Mom nodded. “Yes, you have to eat that stuff.  I can’t believe you don’t  like it!”  She tossed me the honey bear.  “Here, put some honey in it; that  makes it better.”
    I thought for a moment, then shook my head.  “No thanks.  I think I’ll go  unhealthy.”  I got up and and a few moments later, I came back to the table  with the container of brown sugar.
    Mom sighed and shook her head as I plopped a spoonful of brown sugar into  my oatmeal.  “You’re already sick, and you have to make it worse by eating  sugar?”
    I shrugged.  “It’s better than suffering through a bowl of oatmeal.”
    “That’s why we have honey here.”
    “I’d rather have honey on bread, and brown sugar on oatmeal.  ‘Brown sugar  makes the oatmeal go down’,” I said solemnly.
     Mom raised her eyebrows.  “And where did you hear that quote?”
    “Kon.”
    “You’re quoting your big brother now?”  Mom chuckled.  “That sounds like  something he’d come up with.”
    I grinned and inhaled my oatmeal, sounds of my siblings playing ping-pong  downstairs drifting up through the vents.
    After breakfast, I headed downstairs.
    Head pounding and nose stuffed, I rounded the corner and watched my  siblings’ hands move swiftly.  Finally, Kon hit the ball too hard and it  sailed over the table.
    I smirked and looked at his face to see his reaction when I saw- the head  of an alligator?  Looking over at my little sister, I rubbed my eyes.  She  had the head of a... what was that?  A cross between a monkey and a snake?
    I closed my eyes and shook my head.   I was so tired; was I hallucinating?
    I trudged slowly back upstairs and located my mom.
    “Uhhh... Mom?”
    Mom smiled at me from where she was typing on the laptop.  “Hey.”
    I scratched my head and grinned sheepishly.  “I’m probably crazy... but I  went downstairs, and Kon had the head of an alligator and Kara had the head  of some sort of a cross between a monkey and a snake.”
    Mom raised her eyebrows and chuckled.  “Really?  They’re still having fun  with those Halloween masks?”
    I slapped my forehead and groaned.  I must have been so tired when I went  downstairs that my mind didn’t put the pieces of the puzzle together.
    “Appearances can be deceiving, Kate!” Kara’s laughing voice floated up  through the air vent.

 Jesseca Dawn: your entry is an important lesson in itself and a perfect example of how people may not seem to be what they truly are and trust should not be easily given out. Thank you for participating!

Joyanna fought to get away from the grip of SS Lieutenant Erich Essler. "Please, I have to go. Luisa is sick and I'm supposed to get the doctor. Mrs. Carson said so."

Erich glanced around, "and where does the doctor live?"

"Not too far. Just pass the church."

"How about I take you there and then make sure you get back home safely?"

Joyanna, startled by his friendliness, stopped fighting. "Are you sure?"

He nodded.

"Alright, I'll show you the way." she slipped her hand in his and pulled him along as the made their way through the mud and maze of soldiers, tanks and bombed out buildings.

"Here we are," Joyanna announced, stopping in front of a small office. Knocking on the door, she called out, "Dr. Paul, Mrs. Carson needs you."

The door was opened by a smiling man who appeared to be in his late forties, "Ahh, Joyanna. Can I help you?"

"Luisa isn't feeling well and Mrs. Carson said she needed the doctor."

"How are your mother and sister doing?" he asked as he walked over to his desk and picked up his bag. "Are they home?"

"No, they were taken away last night. But I wasn't because I was with Mrs. Carson," she said sadly.

Paul glanced up sharply at Erich, "oh, I'm sorry. I hope they can come back soon."

Joyanna smiled, "Me too. Well, let's get going. Lieutenant Erich said he would make sure we got back safely."

"Oh, really?"

Joyanna nodded, "I don't like soldiers, but I decided he could help."

The doctor glanced nervously toward the Eric at Joyanna's words, but saw nothing but a blank look.

Shutting the door behind him, he joined them as they made their way back to the Carson's.

When they got there, Joyanna ran ahead and opened the door, "I got the doctor, Mrs. Carson."

Mrs. Carson hurried to the door, "Oh, praise God! I was afraid--" she stopped as she caught sight of Erich

"It's okay. he was just making sure I stayed safe."

"I see. Well, thank you," she said, addressing him.

He tipped his hat, "No thanks needed, ma'm. I'm happy to help anytime."  He turned to leave, but when he got to the door he stopped and glanced back at Joyanna. She caught his gaze and grinned. He smiled back, a smile that didn't reach his eyes, then closed the door behind him.

Joyanna walked over to the window and watched him. He glanced back at the house, and the expression of his face caused Joyanna to shrink away. What's wrong with him? she thought. Why does he hate me, but pretend to be nice?

***

Lieutenant Erich quickened his pace as he hurried away from the house and towards the building the German headquarters. He opened the door, letting a shaft of light into the otherwise gray building. 

Once, inside he strode over to the front desk. "I need to see Colonel Koby at once."

Koby's aid, Captain Herrick, glanced up at him, a weary look on his face. "Lieutenant, I'm afraid there are many soldiers who wish to see the Colonel."

"You don't understand. I have information that will be of great importance to him."

Herrick glanced at him for a moment, then stood, "Alright, but this had better be mighty important."

Oh, it will be. Erich smiled smugly to himself, Colonel Koby will be pleased to know of a way we can get all the information we need without lifting a hand. And out of a Jewish girl, no less. Yes, he'll be very pleased.

Faith: your story was a very cute illustration of the moral. It had a humorous angle that I liked. I really enjoyed reading it! Thank you for sending it in!

 Seventeen year-old Samantha Wright hopped out of the driver's seat of the family SUV. She still wasn't sure why Dad had sent her to pick up her brother, Shaun, coming home from deployment. It was not as if she wasn't thrilled at being the first family member to welcome him home after fourteen long months away. But navigating the airport alone, although she'd did it numberous times before, made her a little nervous. 

 She sighed as she clicked the remote to lock the car and started walking across the expansive parking lot. Sure is hot today, she mused. The beaming sun, reflecting up from the black asphalt, made her feel like a melting Popsicle. She nearly laughed out loud at the ridiculous, almost allegoric, comparison. 

 Samantha quickened her pace to get inside the airport and out of the unbearable Arizona heat. 

 Although she didn't enjoy going to the airport alone, she was quite familiar with the whole setting. And soon, without encountering many difficulties, Samantha found herself searching through the crowds of people for Shaun. 

 A uniformed man with his back to her caught her eye. That has to be him. Samantha grinned and hurried towards him. 

 She was only a few feet from the young man when he turned around. Samantha gasped and stopped in her tracks, feeling her face quickly redden. This man was not Shaun. She offered a friendly smile and continued on her way, trying to act as if nothing was wrong and she'd been going that way anyhow. How could I have been fooled so easily? 

 After several more minutes of scouring the throngs of travelers, she spotted Shaun among them. Finally. "Shaun! Over here!" She waved to him. 

 He ran up to him and swept her up in his arms, spinning in a wide circle. She laughed with joyous tears in her eyes. "Welcome home, big brother." 

 He set her down and then hugged her again. "Good to be home, sis." 

 Samantha studied her brother and then glanced across her shoulder, searching for the man she'd mistook as Shaun. 

 He frowned. "Sam, what are you doing?" 

 She shook her head and smiled. "Oh, I was just thinking how deceiving appearances can be." 

 Shaun's left eyebrow rising, as it always did when he was confused or teasing, he smiled suspiciously. "What's that supposed to mean?" 

 Samantha laughed. "I'll explain it in the car. Let's go home."

Thank you, everyone for participating! I enjoyed your entries and I'm sure my other readers will also. I hope that you had fun and are as excited as I am for the next contest!

My Earliest Memories

Though I will be calling this post a "tag," it is really about my earliest memories. I will write a little bit about mine and then "tag" a few other bloggers to answer some questions about their earliest memories. I think this will be a fun way to get to know each other's earlier life. Have fun!

1. What is your earliest memory?
Receiving Christ when I was two.
2. What is your earliest memory of a birthday?
My fourth or fifth birthday party that was at our house when we invited several friends from church.
3. What is your earliest memory of a food?
On my sixth birthday my mom made a butterfly cake for me. 
4. What is your earliest memory of a gathering?
My first clear memory of a gathering was participating in a potato sack race at a community picnic when I was really little. That same day I got my hair stuck in one of those sticky hanging fly traps! No fun. :-P
5. What is your earliest memory of non-immediate family?
I think getting a family picture at my grandparent's house when I was in the five to six year range.
6. What is your favorite memory?
I don't know that I have one in particular but I always enjoy taking trips as a family. We have gone camping at Peppermint Creek in the Sierra Nevada's, visited Hume Lake, Shaver Lake, many National Parks, and of course various family members throughout California.
7. What is your earliest memory of a gift?
I don't really have an early memory. Maybe getting a tether ball for a birthday when I was in first grade. (I think.)
8. What is your earliest memory of an embarrassment?
When I was in public school I got teased by a bunch of kids and didn't handle it very well since I was in kindergarten.
9. What is your earliest memory of when you were scared?
Probably a thunderstorm when I was really small. :-)
10. What is your earliest memory of a camp?
My counselors, craft-making, and kayaking at Camp Good News when I was eight.
11. How young were you when you received Christ? (optional)
I received Christ after watching the Jesus Film at two and one-half-years old.

I have below a list of these questions for the bloggers that I nominate. There will be quite a few and after you answer the questions in a post (if you want to) then you may pass on the same questions to a different blogger than has already been nominated if you wish. Have fun!

1. What is your earliest memory?
2. What is your earliest memory of a birthday?
3. What is your earliest memory of a food?
4. What is your earliest memory of a gathering?
5. What is your earliest memory of family?
6. What is your favorite memory?
7. What is your earliest memory of a gift?
8. What is your earliest memory of an embarrassment?
9. What is your earliest memory of when you were scared?
10. What is your earliest memory of a camp?
11. How young were you when you received Christ? (optional)

The bloggers I choose to nominate are below, but don't feel obligated. Anyone else who wishes to answer them in a comment or on their blog may. Please let me know so that I can check your blog!

Amy with Living in Faith and Fun
Lydia with C'est La Vie
Rebekah with Rebekah's Remarks

Andrea Carter with Andi and Taffy's Blog
Jesseca with A Kansas Wind

Emily with The Imaginary World of Emily McConnell
Faith with Take Me Deeper
Blessing Counter with Counting Your Blessings One by One
Faith with Chosen Vessels (or Stories by Firefly)
Lauren with Lauren's Amazing World
Lydia with Through the Wardrobe
Marci with Two God Crazy Girls
Laura with Harvest Lane Cottage

Have fun, everyone!

Writing Challenge #4

I have heard from at least two of you that you would be interested in another writing challenge. Here are the rules and the new due date:

1) I give you a "moral." (See below)
2) You write a 500-600 word story that reflects this moral.
3) Send it to me via the "Send Me an Email" gadget on the right sidebar of my blog. (Or just through my email if you have my address.) Please include your name or an alias. Thanks!
4) The due date is January 15, a little over a week away. Shortly thereafter I will post the winners.

Please have fun! That is the most important part of this contest. Don't be afraid to come up with something strange, that's what makes it fun. Just enjoy being creative! Now for the moral. Drum roll please!

Appearances are often deceiving.

You should be able to do anything from lighthearted to deep with this moral from one of Aesop's Fables. I'm very excited to see what you send me and I hope this is good timing for you to participate! Have a good week!