My Castle in the Sand

Dear Readers,

Yesterday I got to go to a beach. It was so much fun. We played catch with a football in the water, monkey in the middle, then catch again. Then we got out of the water and made the biggest sandcastle/wall/moat thing EVER. It was awesome.

(no joke. It was so awesome that this lady and guy were taking pictures by it. And taking pictures of it. Let's just say my friend wouldn't have been very happy if they'd gone and put it on facebook and said that THEY'D made it...)

It was fun making the castle. I first made this moat (at the direction of my friend--he's a serious builder on some things...), which took a little bit. (yeah, and it kept on taking the sand off the side and putting it in the middle... oh well... =P) Afterwards, I went and helped to finish the castle. It was amazing. My friend working on that, she's a real perfectionist. I'm more of a "it's good enough let's go" person, but she made me slow down and help her. (mostly because she promised she'd bury in the sand afterwards--what??--even though she didn't end up doing it...)

By the time we'd finished doing it, I couldn't help but think that the castle, the moat, and the huge walls looked amazing, despite the fact that we didn't even have a bucket or shovel between all of us. We just had the wet sand, our hands, and some wood for evening out some parapets on the castle. (I'm telling you, that thing was advanced!!)

It was amazing. :)

Have you ever made a sand castle? Do you like making sand castles? What's your favorite part about the beach? Are you a perfectionist, or more like me, more laid-back?

Talk to you all later. :)

Love,
Anna

Probably Not the Best Choice... But Still

Dear Readers,

Remember how I said I had a cold yesterday? (wait, that was... a few days ago... anyway, anybody remember Road to Avonlea??) Yeah, well... I still had it yesterday. I wasn't feeling that great yesterday morning. Still, I decided to go to a youth group. And... I kind of forgot I had a cold. And, besides, I was feeling a lot better.

That doesn't mean I should've run like crazy for like two hours or more playing games though, right?

Oh.

Oops. =P

Well, I definitely wasn't on the top of my game (not to mention that it is extremely hard at night to catch a black frisbee.... like where on earth is the stupid thing?!?!) but I tried. (nope, I didn't elbow anybody. Or even accidently hug tackle my close friend. I just got into a slight friendly fake tug of war with the frisbee which I won. :D)


I just got a little bit, probably, too tired. Let's just say that towards the end of the evening, I wasn't sure, for a little bit, if I was going to puke up my guts or pass out for lack of oxygen. (that reminds me... I should tell you guys my "almost pass out" story. =P) Which I attribute to my cold, because usually I don't get that bad. (just... like Gimli panting. ;D)

Before that we played kickball. I actually did pretty good, considering it doesn't matter how good, fast, or whatever you are, you can still get out just because somebody kicks the ball right to the person who's guarding the base that you need to get you. (I assure you, I tried to avoid doing this to other people. Other people doing that for me? Not so much. I only made it back to home base twice after like an hour and probably over an hour. =P) It made me feel a little better, though, that one of my really good friends who's a jock at like everything athletic kept on getting out just because of where the ball is. (and she's like a speedy.... so yeah.... I felt better ;D)

So... if you had to pick, would you rather play kickball or ultimate frisbee?

Me?

Oh, OK. I guess I'll answer for you. :)

I would rather play...

NEITHER!

Give me the football and let's play ultimate football!! Whoohoo!!

Either that or volleyball. haha =D

Talk to ya'll later!! :)

Love,
Anna

Truth Is Answers

For Christy O'Keefe:

Truth is, you're an amazing friend and I always look forward to your sweet comments! You always brighten my day and encourage me beyond belief. :) (and thanks so much for guest posting for me, by the way! You rock!!! :))

For Autumn:

Truth is, I've been so happy at helping you with your designing! I hope that you get to find out everything you've been wanting to know in the future. :)

For Sarah Vincent:

Truth is, girl, you're hilarious! :) Love your blog and your sweet comments. I love your writing style... always puts a smile on my face! :)

For Hannah:

Truth is, you're so nice and kind! I can really sense your loving heart through your comments and through your blog. :)

For Claire:

Truth is, thanks so much for all of your sweet comments, which I have loved, and I love your blog and had a fun time designing the header for it. :)

For Christina L:

Truth is, your many and lovely comments have made a glow inside of me every time they come. I love hearing from you so much! :) I'm so glad and blessed to know you. <3

For Britt:

Truth is... oh my goodness, girl. I've known you a lot longer then some of the other girls I'm going Truth Is's to today. I've never regretted, for one moment, meeting you on the blogger world! You're so funny, caring, nice, and so amazing! You are so talented and I can always see God working through you and the way you post. I always look forward to hearing you, whether you're blogging or posting a comment to me. Love ya. ;)

For Jess:

Truth is... you. are. amazing!!!!! I'm so glad that you found my blog that long time ago. =D I've always enjoyed your blog and your comments, and feel like we're best friends. You are such a great friend to me on blogger, and I hope that one day we might be able to meet, face to face. You have so many amazing qualities, that sometimes it just blows my mind. You are one of my favorite bloggers... EVER!! :) And one of my best friends on blogger. <3

For Jessie:

Truth is, I've really enjoyed interacting with you through comments!! :) (by the way, I just realized that I followed your new blog! haha =D I hadn't realized it was you... *wow I feel stupid*) I absolutely love your blog. Your words inspire me. <3

For Kayla:

Truth is, you're so bright and happy! You always make me smile! And your profile picture always makes that inside person in me laugh. :D (because, come on, admit it, whenever you see a funny thing on Pinterest, we barely ever laugh out loud...) I love your blog. Period. =D

Thanks so much, girls! I had lots of fun!! :)

lots of random goodness

Dear Readers,

Oh my word, YES!!!!!!!!! I so so so so so do this. Like writing *spoiler alert* Grandma Beacon's death?! Oh my gosh, I thought I would die crying!!!! (yes, I cried. Yes, I was the one who had her die. Yes, I did that. Yes, I was bawling. OK, maybe not bawling. But definitely crying. WHY ON EARTH DID I KILL HER?!?! Oh, maybe because it seemed right...  I don't know... I really am cruel to Connie... AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO CRIED AT HER DEATH?!?!)

Anywayyyyyyyyy, thanks so much for all of your lovely comments, which I will reply to soon. (Rose and Mackenzie? Gosh, guys, I wanted to cry reading your comments... you two are way too sweet... everybody else, you're sweet, too... anyway...) I was kind of busy for awhile. You can find that out if you check out my post on Storyteller of Weston County. ;)

oh my word...*sniffsniff* we sold one of our puppies today... gah, i can't think about it!! (the reason this is all lowercase is because i have the other three on my lap right now and they're really really squirmy)

man i love random <3

talk to ya'll later

love
me

p.s. i'm revealing my name when i get to 150 friends on storyteller of weston county and i've already gotten to 141!!!! can't wait!!!

Comment for a Truth Is

Comment for a Truth Is.

Never heard of it?

Probably because it's a facebook thing.

Here's the deal: You comment, and I'll do something like this for you...

"Truth is, you're so amazing! I've loved your blog since I first got on it and think that you're an amazing person. :)"

Get it? ;)

OK, comment it up!!

lol ;)

they don't understand

they don't know me. they just don't know me.

and they'll never understand.

nobody will.

except God.

Have you ever felt like that? Like nobody understands what you're going through? Gah, I feel like that all the time, it seems. Nobody seems to understand what I'm thinking and feeling, you know? They just all seem to... I don't know... be all thinking the same thing. And I'm just the odd one out. And they just don't even try to understand me.

It's especially hard when they all seem to understand each other. And they just treat you like the outcast. And they don't even try to understand what you're feeling. They just say you're horrible and different and whatever. And you can't help but think that the only one who knows what you're going through is God.

Have you ever felt like that?

I have.

Sometimes you just feel like you have to escape from them, get away, sort your jumbled thoughts. I usually get that done in my room. But in my heart? I want to rush outside. Climb a tree. Or something like that. Or swing on a swing. Just something. Something that will help you sort all of those confusing thoughts out. You know what I mean?

Maybe you do. Maybe you don't. Thanks for coming along and listening, though.

Sometimes I feel like my life's as far from a book as possible...

My eyes scanned the track course, runners pushing speeding down the lanes. I'm totally engrossed, not really paying any attention. The person I came with sits in front of me to my right, watching, too. Both of us are totally and only paying attention to the race.

"Hey."

I didn't realize the voice was talking to me until I turned around. Nope, the kid was looking right at me. No escaping now.

"How'd you get that?" He points at my yellow knee brace.

What immediately goes through my mind: "Um... I got this from my therapist's..."

I must've had a really confused look on my face, because he quickly says, "I mean, like what happened?"

"Oh." I feel really stupid. "I tore my ACL in a skiing accident."

"Oh, man, I'm so sorry," he tells me.

He says something else about my brace, but I don't remember it. I never see him again.

Weird.

Sometimes I feel like the story worlds that I create are so far from my real life that it's not even funny. Like... my life's never like a story. Nothing ever interesting, funny, or rather strange ever happens to me. But there are those times when it seems like the window of a much bigger story comes open, and something really strange and unexpected happens in my life.

Like... some strange and random kid walking up to me at the track meet and asking me about my brace.

This is me: ????????????????

Let's just say that by the time he'd walked away I was thinking my life was a Jessie Bender letter. JK OK, not quite Jessie (I think if it was a Jessie letter he would've asked me where I was from =P), but definitely one of those book-type things that happened to you that just kind of makes you be like, "What on earth?!"

Has anything like that ever happened to you? Or do you get that feeling sometimes that your life's never going to be a book? What's the strangest thing like that^ that's ever happened to you?

God bless||don't go to track meets (JK)

~Storyteller

Kayla, Aili, and Alaiyah[sorry if I spelled your name wrong =P]

Hey, guys!! :) Thanks sooo much for volunteering. I would love for you guys to keep on posting until I get back. You can all do some on the same day, it doesn't matter. I just want to make sure that posts keep on coming. :) Feel free to introduce yourself, explain what's going on, and give a link back to your blog. :) Please just pick any kind of topic that you like. ;) (nothing bad, of course =P)

Thanks soooooo much, guys!! :) It means a lot. ;)

~Storyteller

Any of you guys want to guest post on here?

Hey, guys!! :)

I'm needing some guest posters on here from tomorrow (May 16th) to next Thursday. (May 23rd) If you would like to guest post, please leave your email in a comment (which I will delete) and I will add you as an another.

Thanks! :)

~Storyteller

With God, I'm free, I'm unstoppable, and it's amazing

I love being somewhere in nature by myself. Like the forest. Or the beach. Or a cliff. Just somewhere. Because then I can close my eyes, and imagine that I'm in one of the adventures in my books. Or I'll think about new twists in my stories. Or I'll just think about the amazing world that God has made--that I'm apart of! It's so amazing for me.

I'll twirl around with my hands raised, feeling unstoppable. When you're by yourself, nothing seems impossible. Because it's like you can actually say to yourself, "Yes, I'm going to do this. And nothing can stop me." It's a little different when you actually get into that situation, right? I've done that lots of times. I'll think, "What's so scary about that?" But then when I get into the situation, I'm like, "I'M GOING TO DIE!" It's because I'm so shy. But I'm breaking free of it.

Because of something that I've realized.

You know that feeling? When you feel unstoppable? Well, guess what? It's real. Because with God, you are unstoppable. You can start that organization for God, you can be in that play for God, you can join choir for God, you can run races for God... The list goes on and on. With God, you can do anything--anything for Him.

It frees you up, doesn't it? Just saying that. "I'm unstoppable with God." Because you are. Suddenly there's a whole new world opened up. Suddenly there's so many things that you can do, with Christ right by your side. It's amazing. It's like a whole new world, isn't it?

I'm in this "whole new world" right now. It's amazing. I just feel free--free to do what God's calling me to do, what He's calling me to be, without fear. It's amazing. Absolutely spectacular. And it just makes me think, Why didn't I do this before?

Sorry this post kind of starts in one place in ends in another... but it's just been something on my heart, you know?

God bless.

A really strange and random poll

Dear Readers,

I'm just really interested to see what you guys think.... I mean, really...

OK, ready? :)

(this might be kind of weird, but just hold on)

Which of the following movies/books are better?

Hunger Games

Twilight

Which of the following movies/books are worse?

Hunger Games

Twilight

I know they're both really popular, so I was just wondering what YOU guys think.

(I, personally, have never read any of the books of either series, never read Twilight, and only watched the first Hunger Games, so.... yeah....... =P)

I'm just really interested to see. :)

Hope you tell me. :)

Love,

Willow

I need help with contests...

OK, quick poll (to decide tomorrow's post...):

What's your favorite type of contest?

(answer by putting the number in a comment)

1. Design contests.

2. Story contests.

3. Photo editing contests.

4. A combination of a few of them.

Thanks!! :)

a post in which i talk randomly [again][yeah]

Dear Readers,

Today was really busy. =P I got a seriously bad sunburn and watched lots of runners. (if you've watched a track meet before--have you ever just felt like you're the one dying out on the field instead of the person who's actually dying??? I seriously felt that today.... =P [that might be because I've died while trying to practice... =P])

Anyway, I'm really trying to work on Olivia 3 (=P). Please don't freak out if I don't finish right away. There's a few things that's wrong with it and would need like real rewriting, and at the time I'm more focusing on stories that I could actually possibly publish in the future. So that's mostly why I haven't been writing on it lately..... not to mention that I keep on getting bombarded with story ideas. =P

(oh yeah, and The Thief... err, yeah... that book... =P)
(and all of the other books)

Anyway, I was wondering... do you guys like book reviews?? I'm mean, really? Seriously? Girl to girl??????? (please please please tell me)

I can't wait to tell you guys who won the picture contest!!! :)

Talk to ya later.

Love,
Katrina
(who still needs a new name)
(HELP!)
(MAJOR HELP!!!!!!!)

Spring is Here

Hey, everybody!

I have been having some physical struggles lately, which you can read about over here. Please be praying for me. This is really hard and pretty scary for me.

It seems like the weather has finally decided that it's spring. The air just smells gorgeous. We opened the windows, and now I'm sitting here smelling a beautiful breeze. I can't wait for the times of shorts and T-shirts, and when I can complete my 2013 Summer Bucket List.

I love winter. I love all of the seasons, frankly. But I'm ready for spring--ready to embrace the weather, the sights, the smells... I'm just ready.

I'm so glad that God made seasons, and not just one season. Can you imagine being perpetually stuck in one season?! I think I'd go crazy. I'm so thankful that God did that for us. Isn't He a great God?! :)

What's YOUR favorite season, and why? Are you excited for spring?

I want to thank all of you for the lovely entries in my contests. I love ALL of them. They're soooo awesome!! :) I'm sooooooo proud of you guys. I loved looking at them. I was just like "oh, wow, I really want to read this" and "oh, wow, I really love this cover". It was so awesome. So you guys can just give yourself a pat on the back. :) (special pun between PB and I... haha, remember? ;))

I have lots of stuff planned for when the weather gets better--and school gets out for everybody--so I hope you stay put and enjoy the ride. :)

Thanks for all of your lovely comments, blogs, and words.

Love,
Katrina
who needs a new name
perhaps Constance (Connie)?
Or maybe Willow...
Some help, please... ;)

P.S. I need to pick up chopsticks soon..... ;D

Book review--Zach's Lie

"Zach's Lie"

By Roland Smith

Name: Zach's Lie

Author: Roland Smith

Genre: Middle School Life, action, adventure

Summary: Because of his dad, Jack Osborne is put into the Witness Security program, where his new name is Zach Granger.

Good points: The book was pretty easy to get into, packed full of adventure, and pretty suspenseful. For a "I-will-put-down-this-book-if-it-doesn't-get-interesting-right-away" kind of reader, this book was pretty good. Very interesting, and well put together. And the author actually seemed to know what he was talking about, not just making up stuff. He actually sounded like he did research. (Good job, dude. ;D) I really liked reading about what it would be like to be put into the Witness Security Program.

Bad points: Since this is, of course, a mainstream book (not Christian), there's going to be the boy-girl thing. (especially because it's Middle School.... seventh grade, no less. Ughy) This was rather disgusting to me, though there wasn't anything "bad" in it, just the "oh she's cute I want to date her" thingy diggy. (which is pretty annoying....) Zach/Jack DOES get a girlfriend (though she almost dies =P) but it's not bad or anything. Just a warning if you don't like the seventh grade romance drama. =P Also, his dad was part of a drug smuggling ring. i.e. the dad flew planes for the drug smuggler dude. So that might be kind of offensive. (I myself was like, "He did WHAT?!")

My thoughts: This book was interesting, overall, but not a fave.

My rating: 2/3 stars

Like the review? Please tell me. I might do this "I'll review whatever book I'm reading over the summer" thing. I really appreciate your thoughts. :)

Newspaper Reminders

Dear Readers,

This is Jessie. The baby's on the way, and I'm way excited!! (Though I'm not enjoying the smell of baby powder that's now in the house since Dad accidently dumped a whole bottle on the floor.... Not cool.) Since the spaghetti fight, the heat has totally been cut off, though Maya's still a jerk.

Oh yeah.

Josh sent me an email. (Apparently, I'm been neglecting my newspaper duties...)(And if you don't remember, Josh is the leader of the newspaper... yeah, and I'm paired to work with Michael. *horrible*)

To: Jessie Bender <dramaticcrazyjessie@gmail.com>
From: josh.newspaper@yahoo.com (I knew at once that it was the Josh-from-my-school Josh)

Jessie,

Sheesh, what've you been?! You were like really good at the newspaper, and then you just like dropped your responsibilities. If you're going to be no the newspaper, please remember that you ARE. Thank you. And don't forget that you're paired with Michael!!

Josh

Gee, thanks, dude.

Anyway, I DO want to be on the newspaper, so this is what I sent back.

To: josh.newspaper@yahoo.com
From: Jessie Bender <dramaticcrazyjessie@gmail.com>

Josh,

I'm still paired with Michael?? OK, OK, I still want to be in... sorry, it's just I was really busy and then I kind of forgot. :/

Jessie

Then I sent it.

I was going to have to come up with a pretty good story to get me back on the newspaper....

Love,
Jessie

I've Found Myself Praying a Lot

Dear Readers,

It's true. I have.

And it's AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Like last night I went to another basketball team. And as people did free throws and stuff, I found myself praying for the person shooting, and then for all of the teams, and then for the people in the crowd. It was such an amazing feeling.

Sometimes prayer seems hard. Like you don't know what to pray about, or how to pray it, or you feel bad if you don't sound perfect like some people seem to. But it's what's in your heart. God knows what you're trying to say.

It's kind of funny. When I pray in my mind, everything makes sense for me. When I try to pray out loud, sometimes I stumble over the words, but I realize that my heart is in the right place and that's what counts for God.

Sometimes it's kind of hard to know if you should just pray, "God, I..." or "Dear God" or anything else you could start out with. I used to only start out with "God..." But now I feel myself starting out with "Dear God". Because He's amazing. He really is.

In my mind, when I pray, I find myself thanking Him for so many things--the beautiful day, my family, what's going on in my life. Thanks. It's something that's hard for me whenever I pray it out loud in front of people. Mostly because I don't want to sound... you know... fake. Like I'm just doing that just because. But I know I can do it in my mind. Because it's real. It's true.

Have you ever had a hard time praying, just with yourself and God or with other people around?

I'd love to know that there's others.

Love,
Katrina

About Jessie and other things...

I've got some updates on the magazine!!

I AM going to put Rubberboot Girl in. We got it fully edited and it's already sent in.

I'm not sure when if/when/or what I'm going to do about the website. It hasn't even been put up yet, since the magazine hasn't even been PUBLISHED yet....

All keep you updated.

Meanwhile...

I'm really excited for summer, since I've got some interesting adventures lined up for Jessie!! This is a summer you guys won't forget!!

Jessie's convinced that all she needs is a relaxing summer away from Maya and the annoying kids at school. But her Mom, the baby on the way, has a very different idea...

Let's just say that you'll want to stay tuned. :)

Later gator. ;)

How Jessie [accidentally] started the second spaghetti fight of the year

Dear Readers,

This is Jessie. I'd been so happy about the baby, that when I went to school on Monday something really horrible just had to happen. I should've NEVER forgotten what Maya had yelled at me at the dance! And now I was going to pay.

I was walking into the cafeteria when all of a sudden Maya jumped up on one of the tables. Ladasha looked at her like she was nut (I could see it all over her face--"That girl just got herself demoted to most unpopular person in the school...") and Summer looked horrified.

"Jessie!" she shouted.

I cringed and stopped, turning around.

"I heard that..."

You can kind of guess the rest. You know--she went off and convinced everybody in the cafeteria that Noah and I were dating. (I didn't want to right the whole thing, because she said a lot of nasty stuff, too, and I didn't want you guys to have read that.)

I was hopping mad. Still, I prayed to God for help and walked over to where Noah was sitting at the table. Michael who, if you remember, used to be the most popular kid in the school and also head of the school newspaper which I was apart of, came over and started talking.

"You know," he started, "no offense, but it seems that you haven't done much for the newspaper lately."

I sighed. "Sorry. I need my camera so I can take some pictures and stuff."

Michael handed me one. "You can start today. We need some school life pictures for the yearbook people."

"OK,"  I sighed.

Michael walked off.

And that's when Maya stood back up on the table.

"Jessie!" she yelled at me. "You think you're something, huh?"

I didn't answer.

"Jessie, look at me! Unless you're a coward!"

I didn't do anything.

But I was thinking.

And thinking hard.

I really had to do something about this problem.

I glanced down at my plate.

It was spaghetti.

I turned and stood up on my own table, Noah giving me a bewildered look.

"OK, Maya," I started. "Stop harassing me, or I'll throw this spaghetti at you." I'd grabbed my plate and picked up a glob of spaghetti in my hand.

She snorted. "You wouldn't."

Splat! But it wasn't ME who'd thrown it!

I glanced around the side of Maya and saw the Sisterhood Squad--Spy, Addy, etc.--all holding globs of spaghetti. Before I could stop them, Spy screamed at the top of her lungs, "FOOD FIGHT!"

And so started the second spaghetti food fight of the year for poor Dayton Middle School.

And, no, I actually never threw any spaghetti.

You know what I DID do?

I grabbed my camera and started snapping pictures left and right.

And, of course, dodged spaghetti.

Let's just say that by the time the teachers got everybody under control, nobody was too sure who'd really started it so we all get sent home with a warning.

Hmm................ ;)

Love,
Jessie

Updates and... BASKETBALL!! =D

Dear Readers,

OK,  so, first off, way sorry I couldn't get on yesterday and comment on your lovely blogs. ;) I was "babysitting". Anyway, I'm almost finished with Connie 2. Unfortunately, I'm not sure I'm going to be able to post it. :( (Because of the magazine and everything.....)

Also, me and my friend just got talked to about maybe writing this story thingy majiggy for this dance recital thing. Any advice? It might be very.... interesting. Anyway, I'm trying to see if I'm going to do it. =P

I've realized that I really like basketball. Yesterday night I went to a basketball game, and it was the first time I'd ever really gotten into a game. (Like not yelling anything or something like that, but more like watching the ball and hissing to myself, "No! NO! Oh, yes! Come on! Drive the ball in NOW! Wait, no, what're you doing?! Urgh, you should've..." yeah, stuff like that. =P)

It was really fun, because we won last night. But anyway..... =D

Later, my friends.

Love,
Katrina