I used to have really long hair. All the way down to past the small of my back, to the point where I ended up accidentally sitting on it a couple of times. But I got it cut today up to shoulder length, donating the difference to Locks of Love. I don't really look too different from my picture. So it's still mostly valid. Just so you know that I haven't changed my hair because I don't want you to recognize me on the street or anything. 

I'm amazed at all these things that I can now do with my hair, that my hair used to be too long for before. I know, too long! You'd probably be amazed at how many hairstyles don't work when your hair is too long. All the ends poking out, or something like that.

When I was younger my hair was always too short. Go figure!

Going to church tomorrow should be interesting!

Well, enough about hair, it's only hair after all. I would like to inform you that the TBQ Regional Finals will be next weekend for me, and I hope the your prayers will be with me. I will be gone the later part of next week, so don't worry. I won't be dead. This, like most things, snuck up on me. I was always saying, "Oh, I have lots of time." But in reality I didn't have that much time at all. How time flies!

Oh, and don't be alarmed if all I seem to talk about is the TBQ Regioanls Final. That's normal for me, even if it isn't less than a week away.

Right now I'm reading this amazing book "Reunited Hearts," by Ruth Logan Herne. Great book!

Have a great weekend!

Deepest Waters review.

I have just finished reading one of the best books I've read in awhile, so I decided to review it for you all.

The book Deepest Waters by Dan Walsh

In 1857 John and Laura Foster set sail on their dream honeymoon aboard the SS Vandervere. Suddenly a hurricane wrecks the steamship, and Laura is sent with the women and children onto the Cutlass, while John is left with the men on the fast sinking ship. Laura struggles to deal with possibly losing John, while John fights for his life along with about 100 men on the open sea, and dreams of seeing Laura's face again. Both grow spiritually, and form strong friendships along the way. Through this entire book Dan Walsh paints a beautiful picture of God's providence through everything, how God uses people and situations for our good, when we can't see it. Dan Walsh show us the beautiful moments in John and Laura's relationship, as they look back on these tender moments. The characters are all very real, and relateable Mr. Walsh has this way of making you genuinely feel for the characters and their plights. This book is engaging, romantic, with threads that cross in such a way as to weave the masterpiece that is this book.

I would highly recommend this book. I didn't think I'd like it at first, because I thought it would just be too sad to read. But I was surprised at how much I liked it, I'm not saying that you won't cry, because you might. But I think you will be surprised at how the characters grip you and steal your heart when you aren't looking.

Through the entire story Mr. Walsh shows how God can work through all sorts of tragedies for the good of those who love him. And the miracles of God's providence. The story was well written, and tugged at my heartstrings. This book was crafted with care, weaving in all the ends carefully. I really liked how Mr. Walsh used this book to show how God uses tragedies to bring other to him, and bless them, in spite of hardships.
I highly recommend this book. It took me by surpirise and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

*I got this book from my local library, and I didn't receive any thing for reviewing this book, I just really liked it and wanted to share my opinion with you!*

Hey there! I told you that I would be posting today, and so here I am. I have a link here to a website where you can check out my entry in Stephanie Morrill's Writing Prompt Contest. I place in the top few so here is the link. I hope you enjoy it! First time I placed.

Okay, moving on. I know you all know that I am going to TBQ Regionals the weekend after next (the 5th, 6th & 7th), And I just wanted to thank those of you who have offered me support, going into this big competition. Pray that the team will grow and learn to support one another through this experience, and that we can be a good example to others. Thanks so much for all your support!

I just wanted to make a quick comment on the weather as it is really, really nice today, 65 degrees. Which is warm where I live. Well compared to the last few freezing cold weeks where it actually snowed, much to some peoples' disbelief.

Well, I ought to let ya'll go, or I'll have nothing to say tomorrow, or I'll go on and on about BQ. Which I do way too much.

Thanks for having me on your computer today, bye!

AWANA over for the year, I can hardly believe it and I will miss my girls so much! 3 of the 5 are going up to TNT which is for 3rd-6th grade. I will miss them. *sob* I can't believe they grew up that fast!

Oh, and AWANA stands for "Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed" from the AWANA key verse 2 Timothy 2:15.

I highly recommend AWANA, I learned so much there. And I love working with the children.

Feel free to ask me questions about AWANA.
Post them below or email me at: crazi.swans at gmail dot com
Here is a link to the AWANA website.

Oh, and I'm posting tomorrow sometime after 4pm central time.

Writing, Reading & Bible Quizzing, Oh my!

Hi ya'll! I am mega excited right now because of something posted here.
Yep, that made my day!
Made me hyper too!

I have been studying my brains out for the TBQ Regionals where my team will quiz BQ royalty, if there is such a thing. I will honestly be surprised if I have any brains left after the tournament. Or my brains might get fried out right before the tournament and then-well, that won't go over very well with my teammates.

Bible Quiz trips are really fun, especially when we go to a hotel with a pool, and free breakfast. The van rides are not for those who are more than a little claustrophobic, because we pack the kids and parents tight! The coach tries to make everyone study 55 minutes of every hour, but it turns into more like 55 for the entire 6 hour trip! I am so excited for Regionals! Seeing all my quizzing friends on the other teams, quizzing them etc.

Last year our team competed in a high level tournament in Southern Texas (despite my use of "ya'll" I don't live down in the land of black gold), and it was at the exact same time as the 2010 Winter Olympics were going on. So our team decided to have our own BQ Olympics, when we weren't quizzing. We had luggage cart races, pool football and elevator races in the hotels, a scavenger hunt in Wal-mart, and a banana pepper eating contest at the 59' Diner. I will always treasure those memories that I made on BQ trips, (I got a bronze over-all medal in the BQ Olympics!) I remember the boys singing constantly  the whole way down to Texas, repetitive songs like "With Christ in your boat, you can smile at the storm, sailing home!" And how much I bonded with other Christians all brought together for the purpose of quizzing over God's word.

Oh, and in case you were wondering the list for the scavenger hunt looked something like this:

1. Baby Bath Toy
2. Optimus Prime Action Figure
3. Cast Iron Skillet
4. Canned Jalapeno peppers
5. T-shirt with the president on it
6. 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle
7. Colgate Toothpaste
8. Box of Valentines candy
9. A stuffed bear with hearts on it.
10. black nail polish.

I'm proud to say that my team found everything on the list.

So if anyone tells you that Bible Quizzers never have any fun, you be sure to set them straight!

Oh, and I just finished "Lilies in Moonlight" by Allison Pittman, "A Family for Faith" by Missy Tippens, and "The Forgiving Hour" by Robin Lee Hatcher. All great books that I would recommend to you. And right now I am reading "The Deepest Waters" by Dan Walsh.

If you have any questions regarding BQ or anything else I post, please leave a comment and I will get back to you!

Blessings!

Happy Easter 2011 Part 3

Hello there! Today is Easter and I wanted to post the last of John chapter 20.
Here I am struck by alot of things, like how we all have serious doubting crisis's, even though we know we should be trusting in Jesus.Thomas wanted to put his and hand and finger in Jesus' wounds, he wanted serious proof! Jesus knew Thomas had doubts, so he came to Thomas and put his doubts to rest. God knows we have doubts concerning His will or how much He cares, but if we turn to Him he will help us with our doubts, all we have to do is open our eyes, "stop doubting and believe!"

John 20:19-31

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”

After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”

And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.

So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my fingers where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.”

A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.

But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Have a blessed Easter!
Sorry this is late!

Happy Easter 2011 Part 2

Hey, I'm back and I decided I should post more.
I really like this scripture, because Jesus calls Mary Magdalene by name, and she thought he was the gardener! Makes me think of how he knows all of our names, even before we know Him!

John 20:10-18

Then the disciples went back to their homes,

but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept she bent over to look into the tomb

and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”

At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

“Woman,” he said, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned towards him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (Which means Teacher).

Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers, and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

So remember this Easter, that Jesus knows your name even if you don't know who He is!

Have a blessed Easter!

           

Happy Easter 2011 Part 1

Hi everybody!
As Easter is drawing very, very, near I thought I'd post some of the most beloved Scipture in the Bible.
This is one of my favorite passages, I have the entire chapter memorized.

John Chapter 20:1-9

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.

So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!"

So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb.

Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.

He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in.

Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there,

As well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen.

Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed.

(They still did not understand from scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)


Have a blessed Easter!

To entertain y'all

To entertain ya'll here is a random snippet of nothing in particular that I wrote in a time of boredom and writer's block. (Writer's block associated with what I was supposed to be working on, that is). Remember, I did promise randomness!

Three days later, Mort returned. He returned with a princess. She was, in essence just like every other princess Ward had seen before. And he had seen more than his share, with Bob being married to one and Mort rescuing one almost every other week. (You see, sometimes while rescuing one princess he would find another in distress as well, and save her too. Not to mention all the people Mort rescued that weren’t princesses).

                This princess was no different, she was beautiful, charming, perfectly poised, and completely in love with Mort. In fact she had already planned their wedding down to the last frosting rosette on the seven foot tall, twenty layer wedding cake.

And Mort was scared. Not of Princess Harriet, but of the raving madman who was running full out toward them, waving sword. He was old, it was true, but he was menacing just same, (old men waving swords usually don’t do so unless they want to look menacing).

The madman was the king of Lardo.

Though at that moment he looked more like a pauper than a king, running about in his long john underwear usually had that effect on kings- and people in general. The sword added a whole new level of insanity to the almost comical situation.

I know, I cringed. It was pretty bad. I tend to write lots of stuff just to amuse myself, and that stuff that I write in moments such as those is complete and utter nonsense. Just thought I'd amuse ya'll.

I have a job delivering papers. Yesterday I had to do it right after it had rained.
It is a small paper that is available for free and is something like a classified add, full of advertisements and coupons. The good thing is that we only have to deliver it once a week. The funny thing about it is that it is mostly delivered my other homeschoolers, like me. And thankfully I don't have to wake up at the crack of dawn to do it. We deliver them at 3 p.m.-ish.

The good thing was that most it was just cold, not too wet. Just enough though.

Today, we had a last get together for my choir and we had this huge party. Played games and ate. Not to mention talked. Girls tend to to talk alot when in large groups together like at a party.

I know I promised you a long post, but I really don't have that much to say.

I am of course still studying away for TBQ, I can't believe I only have a little over two weeks till Regionals. So hard to believe. I can't wait to see some of my friends that I only see at BQ meets. I was overjoyed when I heard that they had made it to Regionals. If you wan to know more about TBQ check out my post here.

I am reading "Jewel of His Heart" by Maggie Brendan.

I think I'll post something really random tomorrow.

Bye!

My Sound of Music concert last night was a blast! I had so much fun. Singing "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" is more than a little daunting, mostly because of the extremes of the notes and how long you have to hold each one. But I am pleased to say that none of us passed out!

I'm sorry that this won't be very long but I will try to post tomorrow when I have more time.

My brother just got a Snuggie and he loves it! He is one of those people who is cold all of the time. So it's great for him!

I have been watching "Les Miserables concert at the O2" and I must day that the talent is outstanding.

This is really scattered and random, so I will let you go and talk to ya'll when I'm more organized.

Bye!

Palm Sunday

 Easter is almost upon us. It is so hard to believe that it is going to be Palm Sunday this upcoming Sunday. It feels like it came so soon, but in reality it came later than usual. So as we get ready to celebrate Jesus' life-saving sacrifice, I thought some Palm Sunday scripture would be in order. This scripture comes from the gospel of John, chapter 12, verses 12-16. (NIV). (I have this memorized for Bible Quizzing).

"The next day, the great crowd that had come for the feast, heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem.

They took palm branches and went out to meet him shouting, 'Hosanna!' 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!' 'Blessed is the king of Israel!'

Jesus found a young donkey and sat upon it, as it is written,

'Do not be afraid O daughter of Zion; see your king is coming seated on a donkey's colt.'

At first his disciples did not understand all this, only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him."

Happy Palm Sunday!

Crazy busy

Sorry if I bored ya'll to death with all my talk of Teen Bible Quiz and all. But lately it hasn't been far from my mind. We have a little more than three weeks to prepare. And let me tell you something, Regionals isn't something that you can really prepare for. Every time I go to a big tournament I feel immediatly guilty for every second I spent doing something useless, like watching TV, and wish I had studied more. But that's life.

Recently we've been busy with homeschooling and church, (which includes AWANA & TBQ). The AWANA season is almost over and it's always hard when I have 2nd graders in my SPARKS group, because then the next year they move up with the big kids. *sigh* If only they would stay little forever. I remember my mother saying the same of me.

Right now we are in a frenzy trying to order all the awards for the little Sparkies, making sure we get them the right one and that they are finishing up their books like they're supposed to. I'm proud to say that all my Sparkies in my small group will be finishing. Yay!

Tonight I'm skipping 4-H because I'm not feeling my best, but hopefully I will be well by tomorrow so I can help out with AWANA. My brother is filling in for me as secretary, and he is not exactly thrilled with the prospect of having to take notes the entire meeting. But he's still excited about it, which is good.

It is so hot today. It was 76 degrees when I went out today on my paper route. But that's nothing compared with what's coming our way this Summer!

BYE

What is Bible Quizzing?

I told ya'll that I am getting ready for the regional final for TBQ. Well I think this might be awfully confusing for those of you who are not familiar with Bible Quiz. So I will try to explain what it is, though this post will will be in no way a complete, in depth walk through of the world of BQ. That would take my entire life. So I will just explain the bare bones basics so that ya'll can get a good idea of what goes on during a typical match, and why I love BQ.

First off Bible Quizzing scares alot of people. I was afraid of it at first too, until I joined. I sounds really hard, and watching it can just make your head spin. But if you've studied, it's really fun. If you don't study, it's still fun but not as much.

I quiz Assembly of God style, though my team and I are actually a non-Asssembly team. This year we are quizzing over the Gospel of John (NIV), all 21 chapters.

The Match
First off the match is opened with prayer. Then the match begins.
A team usually consists of 3-6 players and a coach. Only three of the quizzers can be in at once, but they can switched in out and out for other players during the length of the match.
In a match 2 teams face off.
There are ideally three or four judges, one of whom is the quiz master (the person who asks the questions), two judges who watch the quizzers and and the quiz master to make sure everything goes correctly. The fourth person usually keeps official score and/or keeps time if needed, (some quiz boxes [buzzer systems] don't have built in timers, but most do).
 Each active quizzer is equipped with a buzzer, that resembles the foot treadle of a sewing machine, with is hooked up to the quiz box.
Each team is assigned a color, either red or green, based on the color of the lights which illuminate when a quizzer buzzes in. Each active player is assigned a number to go along with the team color for that match. So for instance one player would be "Red 3," another on the same team "Red 2," and the third member of the same team "Red 1." The same being repeated with the other team, with them being the green team.
The match consists of 20 questions, and more if the game goes into overtime. There are 10 questions for 10 points each, 7 for 20, and, 3 for 30, from anywhere in the book of John. And the quizzer must buzz in, and then when the quizzer is acknowledged, the quizzer has exactly 30 seconds to give the correct answer.
Here are some sample questions to show you what the questions are like:

All questions start with opening remarks such as: Question. Question for 10 points from the section of John titled The Validity of Jesus' Testimony.

Then there is the actual question portion of the question: Which geographical location is found?

And the answer is: The Mount of Olives.

The questions for 20 & 30 points are much harder. There are different types of questions with different requirements, but I won't go into all that, if I did this post would be more like a book.

Here is an example of a Regional Level 30 point question. (They are easier or harder depending on the level of question, but 10 pointers tend to stay the same regardless of level).

Question. Question for 30 points. Quotation question (which means that the answer must be quoted word perfect from scripture). From four consecutive verses from the 3rd chapter. (Those were the opening remarks which are sometimes more important that the question). Quote verses 14,15,16 and 17 from the 3rd chapter.

And the answer is:

"Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,

that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him, shall not perish but have eternal life.

For God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him."

And remember, that has to be quote perfect, according to the opening remarks. There are other questions which are called essence questions, where the quizzer only has to give the verses required in essence.
If one quizzer gets 5 questions right, then he/she "quizzes out" which means they have answered too many questions for that match and must sit the rest of the match out. The quizzer also receives 20 extra bonus points for quizzing out. All quizzers want to quiz out.

At the end of the match, the winner of the match is declared. And the teams shake hands and congratulate each other on a good match.

There are so many other things about Bible quiz that I have not even began to cover. But you can find out more by clicking here where you can download the rulebook for free and learn more about BQ.

I cannot speak for others but Bible quizzing has helped me so much, because of Bible quizzing I have grown spiritually because it motivates me to study my Bible more, and with studying comes a longing for more knowledge. Also it has taught me to stand up for God's word, and has helped me with public speaking. Not to mention the long term benefits of memorizing God's word! Those verses will be with me my whole life through. I cannot say enough good thing about BQ.

Next year we will be studying Hebrews and 1st and 2nd Peter. Great Apologetic stuff!

BQ is for all ages, there is peewee BQ, JBQ, TBQ and even Adult BQ. The best way to find out about BQ in your state is to look up the state's Assembly of God association, even if you are non-assembly (like me) they can help you set up BQ in your area. If you have questions about BQ post them in the comment section of this post, with an email address and I will do my best to answer your questions.

What I'm reading

I'm reading, "To Darkness Fled" by Jill Williamson & "Head in the Clouds" by Karen Witemeyer.
Just so you know.

Writing and reading about love?

I don't write romance. Mostly because it hasn't happened to me enough for me to write about it. I haven't been a jilted prince either, but somehow that's easier than writing about love. Writing about love comes hard for me. I write about it in passing, as a side story, but it doesn't take center stage.


But I love to read about love! Give me eight Christian fiction romances and I'll be good for a week! But set me down and tell me that I have to write a romance, not just a story with romance in it, I'd be sulking around for the rest of my life(actually I wouldn't be, I'd just be giving it my best go at it!). I think that it mostly stems from me being a oldest child perfectionist, and I know that it isn't my strong suit. The story starts out good with a good plot etc. but I have noticed that alot of romances feed off of emotion. Raw emotion at romantic frustrations. I haven't experienced many romantic frustrations. Thank goodness for that! I can't ever seem to get the right emotions, or deep enough reactions. Nothing I write makes me want to sigh. *sigh* I just can't get the scenes quite right.


I think that's where writing what you know comes to play. I think writing what you know is very important, I like to write main characters who have horses. Which works great from me since I can honestly say that I know horses. I have one.

I can also (and do!) write about struggles with being faithful and following God. I struggle writing those scenes too, because I want them to be real and easy to relate to. Like in the short story I'm working on now, my MC is confused about God's will for kings because, why would God choose a tyrant king who oppresses the people? He struggles with God's will for his life. For the kingdom.

I guess this post is mainly me rambling randomly about my writing struggles. So over and out!

Inspired by fairy tales

I always loved fairy tales as a child. My mother would red, and re-read Cinderella, Rumpelstiltskin, Sleeping Beauty, Jack and the Beanstalk, Beauty and the Beast, The Snow Queen, etc. to me every night. You name it I've probably heard it. (Though I had a strong dislike for Scandinavian fairy tales, which always seemed gruesome with somebody always cutting off some body part with out thinking twice). Fairy tales inspired me to write fiction, because that's what fairy tales were, made up stories. I loved writing my own fairy tales, where the princes and princesses were professional private eyes, or where a prince was in search of a princess but fell in love with and married a princess's lady-in-waiting instead. Most of all I liked the romance. How right after the two people met, they knew right off that they were right for each other, and would endure flaming trials together by each other's sides. What I liked most about fairy tales was that they were made up and I could create my own realm full of made up people. I even tried to rewrite a fairy tale. Here is an excerpt from  my attempt (which I have not picked up since I was 12), of Sleeping Beauty.



I slowly opened my sleep laden eyelids, blinking back the sudden brilliance of light that assaulted my sensitive eyes. I blinked again, and again, until finally the room came into focus. My room. The once lavender walls were now faded and covered in...dust? Surely I hadn't slept that-

    "Fair Maiden," I sat bolt upright, and whirled towards the voice. "Fair maiden, I have broken the evil enchantment that has entrapped you and your family for 100 years, I have fought wild beasts and angry peasants alike for the privilege of rescuing you and kissing your lips."

    He'd done what! Suddenly, I felt like spitting.

    I turned my attention to the speaker, he was about my age, probably tall, but I couldn't tell because of the fact that he was kneeling beside my bed. His mouth moved animatedly as he spoke, while the sunlight dance of his golden hair. Not only that but he was dressed head to toe in blue velvet. Definitely a prince.

    I tried and failed, to disentangle a cobweb from my mud brown hair, trying my best not to think about this velvet clad prince, kissing me. The thought made me shudder.

    I tried to rise but then decided not to when I saw the state of my dress, covered with more than 2 inches of dust, and bird droppings. I had the sudden urge to bathe-immediatly.

That's all folks!

P.S. Now I write Christian based stories.

P.P.S. I'm also reading "Beauty Sleep" by Cameron Dokey. 

A video request from my brother

Okay, so according to my brother you have not lived if you have not seen this. Most people have. But my brother nagged me so this is the video my brother wants you to see keep in mind that he is a teenage boy, and this is funny to him.

The Invasion of the Fingernail Snatchers!

Okay, yeah I used that cool and somewhat (Okay, alot) random headline to catch your attention. Sorry about that.

AWANA is almost over! I can't believe that we have only 2 more weeks of club! (We don't meet the week of Easter). Which means that Summer is fast approaching.


For me Summer doesn't mean no school, it actually means more school. You see, I'm homeschooled. I've noticed recently that "I'm homeschooled"  seems to be the answer to alot of questions people ask about why I do things. Strange. But if you're homeschooled I think you should know what I mean.


I've been working on a story recently, and I have found the best motivation ever! I have a really close friend who is also homeschooled and likes to write and read (she works in a library), and I let her read my stories and she lets me read her's. This system helps me because then I have deadlines; which she does enforce. She is a very impatient reader! She is always dying to know what happens next, so she gets even more impatient if I give her a rough draft that I purposely leave with a cliff hanger. I know this doesn't work for alot of people, but I does for me. I mostly just have big dreams anyway. But I would love to publish something sometime in my life, even if it's a vanity press published book, then I would have something to give to my kids and grandkids.

Right now I am reading "Tailor-Made Bride" by Karen Witemeyer, and loving every second of it!

As most of you know I am getting ready to compete in the regional TBQ finals. And studying is hard work! I am looking forward to seeing alot of my BQ friends at the meet. Being at a high level BQ final is actually one of the most fun, relaxing places to be, surprisingly. Mostly because there are so many Christ centered teens just like me, who spent 9 months of their year memorizing God's word. Not to mention how hard that is to do around a busy, teenage schedule!

I have 4 more rehearsals until the Sound of Music Concert! I have a solo in "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria." I'm sister Margareta. We get to sing and dance. 2 of my favorite things! Besides reading and writing, of course.

Well that's the update on my life since Tuesday. Over and Out!

More is coming!

So begins the hard work

The problem with qualifying for Regionals with TBQ is that now I have to study alot more. And sad to say I have actually been doing less! It's so hard to find the time. But I think I'll put more effort into it.

I'm reading "Plain Proposal" by Beth Wiseman. I love her Amish books!

I watched the ACM's last night. I wasn't impressed with the humor at all, but I was so happy that Taylor Swift won Entertainer of the Year. I voted for her. I was sad that Dierks Bentley didn't go home with anything. I really liked his Bluegrass CD.

My best friend works at a library. Just thought I'd share that random, but awesome information.

 I love libraries. All the Librarians know my name.

My story is coming along! Yay! He isn't lost in the woods anymore!

Off to Regionals we go!

I just wanted to tell everyone that my BQ team made it to Regionals! We won State, and I won top individual quizzer and my brother won second! It was an amazing experience. Especially since I made it through, during the match I was coming down with a fever and I think our family is now officially sick. But I'm glad I stuck it out and made it through. My brother was amazing, he beat this girl who had been beating him all year and then at state he beat her! Which was kind of a shocker since she was the one who was the one I had to challenge for top quizzer. But she's happy with what she did and vows to annihilate both me and my brother next year! And you thought TBQ was tame! No, it's not, it's very competitive sport, with most of the competitors being homeschooled like me. Regionals will be a rough ride, it will be a struggle to place in the top ten out of twelve. Regionals is cutthroat! And yes, it is a Christian sport. No, everything is not perfect, some bad things happen sometimes that are not fair and well, it just is proof that people are only human. Even if we are Christians.

Right now I'm reading "Made to Order Family" by Ruth Logan Herne. I love it! can't wait to see what happens with Brook and Rita.

Tomorrow is the day!

Tomorrow is the TBQ State Final! And Much to my surprise I am in the running for "State Quizzer of the Year!"  That is just really cool!
Tomorrow is the day that decides who moves onto the Regional level (insert scary music here). I am so excited! I love TBQ, it is one of my passions and my excuse for not writing nearly as much as I should. I know, shame on me.
Well wish me the best!