2015

We'd better get these published before we graduate=)

So, my friend Leah and I are writing a trilogy.  I'm writing the 1st book, she's writing the 2nd book, and then we're writing the 3rd book together.  The 1st two books are about each of our characters...me writing about the background story of my characters in my book(the 1st book), and Leah writing about the background story of her characters in her book(the 2nd book).  Then, the 3rd book is when our characters meet.  So at the end of my book and at the end of her book our characters meet but when you read the end of the 1st two books, you read about the characters meeting from her and my character's perspectives.  And then that's where both two 1st books end and the3rd book starts.  Also, you don't have to read the books in order like 1. 2. 3.  You can read them 2. 1. 3. because the 1st two books don't line up...they're just about my character's background and about her character's background between the two books.  In addition to the trilogy, I'm writing a prequel for the trilogy.  If you aren't confused yet, you deserve an award!  :)


The Journey description(the prequel)...I'm writing this one
Lance Chestal works for the Journey, a company run by Jefferson Thompson...a.k.a. Commander Jefferson.  Work here for Lance is going well; but life in his home is slowly failing.  He is slowly falling away from his wife, Melanie, towards the business life.  On realizing what Jefferson's main purpose for the Journey is, Lance must find a way to keep his wife and daughter Megan safe from it.

The Rebellion description(book 1)...I'm writing this one
For years, Jefferson has been suspecting a rebellion.  Working for the Journey for five years, Biggins Winterlock is tired of the business life and might just fulfill Jefferson's suspicion.  The combat life in the Journey isn't so bad; it's the way Jefferson runs the Journey.  Biggins decides she has had enough of this evil.  She escapes.  Biggins now must survive on her own, maintaining the title of fugitive.

The Initiation description(book 2)...Leah's writing this one
While Biggins is managing life as a fugitive, Royal Westerien is trying to reclaim her inheritance that Jefferson Thompson got a hold of.  With Kenneth Katz, a family friend, they will journey together on a dangerous quest and Royal will find out about a past she was not familiar with...a past bringing painful memories.

The Termination description(book 3)...Leah and I are writing this one
On this time-consuming mission, Royal and Kenneth won't have to suffer alone.  After running into them at a hotel, Biggins and Isaac Desdan(a Journey agent who also rebelled), agree to join Royal and Kenneth in reclaiming the inheritance if they but help them overthrow the Journey.

Leah and I started writing The Kingdom of the North a year ago but we were writing it together so it was hard to do so since we live about 40 minutes away from each other.  So we decided to let that story sit a while as we started a trilogy plus a prequel.  Even though we are writing the 3rd book together, we each have our own books to write so book 3 is kinda on hold too:)  Plus we were texting each other the Termination back and forth(like I would send her a part and then she would write onto it)and then she accidentally deleted all her texts so it was up to me to write the Termination on the computer.  Then a couple months later, I accidentally deleted all my texts.  So now I'm trying to get what we have written of the Termination so far onto computer.  We can't start up with the Termination until all our deleted texts and inspiration scenes are recovered written back up:)  Plus, I'm trying to finish the Silent Seeker and edit that...the joys a writer=)

Update: I just finished the 1st draft of the whole book of the Journey!!!

Keep Calm, Handle Situations Wisely, and Trust God!

Wondering about trust/who to trust? go to section 1

Wondering about strength and how to become stronger? go to section 2
Wondering about how not to be afraid and what to do if you are afraid? go to section 3
Wondering about friendships? go to section 4
Wondering about how/what to pray for? go to section 5
Wondering about praises? go to section 6
Wondering about serving others? go to section 7
Wondering about what to avoid in life and also what to seek? go to section 8
Wondering about building others up? go to section 9

Several of the verses are doubled or tripled since some fall under more than one category

Everything after a dash are my thoughts.



Section 1: Who to trust in
Psalm 56:11, "In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me."
-We don't have to be afraid because God is our trust.
Proverbs 3:5-6, "5Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  6In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy path."
-Trust in the Lord and not myself.  Follow the Lord and not my heart.



Section 2: How do we become stronger and where we can find our strength?
Psalm 71:7, "I am as a wonder to many; but thou art my strong refuge."
-Follow God no matter what others think about you.
Psalm 94:16, "Who will rise up for me against the evil doers?  or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?"
-As Christians, we must stand strong for the Lord!
Proverbs 28:1, "The wicked flee when no man pursuit: but the righteous are bold as lions."
-There's no reason to cower from the wicked when God is on our side!
Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me."
-God gives us strength.  If someone hasn't trusted in Christ then they don't have His strength to do all things.
Mark 10:27b, "...with God all things are possible."
-It's explained right here^^



Section 3: How not to be afraid and what to do if I am afraid
Psalm 56:3, "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee."
-If we're ever afraid trust in God.
Proverbs 3:25, "Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes."
-Don't let fear overcome me!  Just because something's dangerous, doesn't mean you have to be scared, if you have Christ."



Section 4: Friendships
Psalm 133:1, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"
-Believers shouldn't have any differences that cause arguments/anger/broken friendships.
Proverbs 15:1, "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger."
-People who are arguing may want you to argue back.  They may want to make you mad.  So instead we should reply softly, gently, and kindly.
Proverbs 18:24, "A man that hath friends must be himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."
-If we want friends, we have to be a friend.
Proverbs 22:17, "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend."
-Be a good influence on my friends.  And not just to my friends but to others.  Even though we may not see it, people are watching us all the time.  That's why it's so important to be careful what we do/say.
Haggai 1:7b..."Consider your ways."
-This is a p.o.w.e.r.f.u.l. verse!  We should consider everything we do.  We should consider the consequences our ways might cause.
Luke 6:27, "But I say unto you which hear, love your enemies, do good to them which hate you."
-If someone hurts you, don't say anything angry back to them or hurt them back.
John 15:13, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
-Love is putting someone else first.  Even if it means sacrificing yourself for someone else.  That's what Jesus did for us on the cross.  He died for us!



Section 5: Prayers
Psalm 51:10, "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."
-We should pray to God to change us from our evil ways.
Psalm 56:3, "What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee."
-Trust in the Lord!

Psalm 139:1,4, "1O, Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.  4For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knows it altogether."
-God knows everything we've ever said, done, and are going to say or do in the future.

Section 6: Praises
Psalm 57:7, "My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise."
-Fix your heart on God!
Psalm 121:1-2, "I lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.  My help comes from the Lord which made heaven and earth."
-God is our help.  He made all things.  If we're ever troubled, we can go to Him.



Section 7: Serving others
Psalm 100:2, "Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing."
-We need to be cheerful when we serve and not grumbly.
Mark 10:45, "For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many."
-Even Christ came to serve.  As Christians, we want to be like Christ so we should serve others as well.
John 12:26, "If any man serve me, let him also follow me; and where I am there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour."
-If we serve God, He will honor us.
John 15:13, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
-Love is putting someone else first.  Even if it means sacrificing yourself for someone else.  That's what Jesus did for us on the cross.  He died for us!
Galatians 5:13, "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another."
-How should we serve?...with love.  When we're saved, it doesn't mean we have the freedom to sin.
Hebrews 6:10, "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have showed toward His name, in that ye have ministered to the saints and do minister."
-For example, when we do something (such as loading the dishwasher) without being asked and no one sees it, God will reward us for it.
1 Peter 4:10, "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."
-What gift or ability God has given us, we should use it to serve others faithfully.
Ephesians 6:1, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right."
-Obey your parents unless it goes against the Lord.



Section 8: What to avoid in life and also what to seek
Proverbs 4:14, "Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men."
-Don't follow evil men and their ways.
Proverbs 4:19, "The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble."
-Don't stumble in the wicked ways.
Proverbs 4:27, "Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil."
-Go down the straight and narrow path.  Leave the wicked.
Proverbs 12:15, "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise."
-Don't be wise in our own eyes, humble myself, and listen to counsel.
Proverbs 12:20, "Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but the the counsellors of peace is joy."
-Don't imagine evil otherwise we will be deceived.
Proverbs 12:22, "Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are His delight."
-The Lord hates lying!
Proverbs 15:1, "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger."
-People who are arguing may want you to argue back.  They may want to make you mad.  So we should reply softly, gently, and kindly.
Proverbs 16:19, "Better it is to be an humble spirt with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud."
-Be humble...not proud.
Proverbs 16:20, "He that handleth a matter wisely; shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he."
-Handle situations wisely and trust God!
Proverbs 18:13, "He that answereth a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame unto him."
-Don't answer before you hear the whole story/question.
Proverbs 12:19, "The lips of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment."
-Speak the truth and not lies.
Proverbs 18:21, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."
-We need to be careful what we say because we can't take back what we say.  We shouldn't say anything we'll regret.
Proverbs 22:1, "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour."
-We shouldn't seek silver, gold, or fame.
Proverbs 24:1, "Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them."
-We shouldn't want to be around evil people.  We also shouldn't be jealous of them because that's basically being jealous of sin.
Proverbs 24:17, "Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth."
-Everyone deserves a second chance.
Proverbs 28:21a, "To have respect of persons is not good..."
-Don't have favorites.
Ephesians 6:1, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right."
-Obey your parents unless it goes against the Lord.



Section 9: Building others up
Proverbs 15:30a, "The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart..."
For example; if you're singing and it's hard to smile to show people you're having a good time, smile with your eyes.
Proverbs 17:22, "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones."
-Never put people/others down.  Always encourage others.
Proverbs 4:18, "But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day."
-Be a light to the world.
Proverbs 24:17, "Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth."
-Everyone deserves a second chance.
Haggai 1:7b..."Consider your ways."
-This is a p.o.w.e.r.f.u.l. verse!  We should consider everything we do.  We should consider the consequences our ways might cause.
Ephesians 6:1, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right."
-Obey your parents unless it goes against the Lord.

(The verses are from the Bible)

12 Days of Thanksgiving

Thanks for nominating me for 'The 12 Days of Thanksgiving' Tag, S.F.!
~Rules~

1. List 12 things that you are thankful for

2. Tag as many bloggers as you want, making sure to tell them of their nominations

1. God's unending love

2. Friendships

3. My family

4. Other's cheerful attitudes that makes your day
5. Football

6. Tolkien

7. Black ink pens

8. The ability to write
(I promise, S.F., I didn't copy you on this one...I actually did have this written in my thankful journal:)

9. Music

10. Technology

11. Letters
12. Forests

~Nominees~
Darrion and Willow
Abbie

Like-Father/Like-Daughter

=)

We Rock Climb

Who likes rock-climbing? =)

 

Leyla

She did such a great job!  I enjoyed watching her=)

Isaac

He went the hard way and did an amazing job!  I felt bad for telling him to go that way:/  He did awesome anyway:)

Nolan

He made it so far...I'm impressed how far he made it!  Such a determined guy!

Nick

He went right up the middle which was obviously the hardest part...way to be daring!

Molly
She's so athletic!

Me

Long time literally no see;D

I apologize for the slowness of blogging.  My family moved into to a rental to wait while our house is being built so we are in the middle of moving last minute items to our rental house since we have to be out of our old house by Tuesday.  We have most everything over at our rental(since our movers came yesterday)but we still have a few items left.  Hope to start blogging again after we get fully moved, a little unpacked, and settled in:)

"We're heading for the Prancing Pony."

Parts of the Old Faithful Inn we stayed at looked like Bree and Mirkwood from Lotr and the Hobbit=)

Our God Is An Awesome God

...

So Much Fun!

Thanks, EB, for planning this little 'vacation':)  You're such a blessing!

Yellowstone National Park

August 1st we headed off to Yellowstone!  If you like mountains, waterfalls, forests, bison, long hikes, and sore muscles...go to Yellowstone:)  Although don't go hiking by yourself or off the trail and make sure there's at least 3 people in your group so you don't get mauled by a bear.

The Bad Lands in the distance

watching the Fellowship

Mt. Rushmore

you can see the watchtower in the distance

the best thing on a drive to the mountains is seeing them in the distance

a beacon form Lord of the Rings

Bear Tooth Pass

The Lonely Mountain

Mountain water is f.r.e.e.z.i.n.g.

Bison

Pronghorn deer

A warg was clawing at this tree;)

Thranduil would've loved it here:)

Dragon's Mouth

This guy's shirt said snap on so I decided to 'snap' a picture of it:)

My dad called this the 'igloo geyser'

Old Faithful

it reminded me of a tornado:)

We watched Old Faithful go off one last time the morning we left!

Our parents bought us pop-tarts for breakfast for the ride home!!!

The Grand Tetons

(probably my favorite part on the whole trip)