Sometimes... things happen.

I hath done it today.

It is finished.

What is finished you ask?

Or maybe you didn't.

Well, I'll tell you anyway.

Anybody know the word.... SAXON?

As in, MATH?

After 10 years - that's one-zero YEARS (which are 365 days each and maybe two or three leap years)

I have DONE IT!

I have finished the LAST Saxon Math lesson I will ever do!

The last lesson of the last book.

I have done it.

I tied up ten years worth of math by drawing a graph on problem 25.

Just that simple!

Ten years!!!

Ten years all done.

Comment and congratulate me, all you jealous people!!!

On yet another school note, I have found that I have enough credits to graduate in the class of 09 and go to college next year. Whoa. But we decided to wait and concentrate on ACT prep, and CLEP prep, and driving. CoOoOoOoOol.

Well, that's my school life. Now to all my other lives.

My writing life is going quite well. Preparing for NaNoWriMo, which you should all do. I am writing many things. Be sure to participate on the ongoing comment story hosted by our dear Pip. Post a comment with your next part of the story! Be creative, yet stay with the storyline somewhat remotely.

God is showing me little new things every day in my spiritual life. I've been thinking a lot on the subject of worship, as has been everybody else on our church worship team. I wrote a post on it here. I'd like to know what YOU think worship is!

My football life is depressing.

My fantasy football team hasn't won yet because I have good players that are performing badly. But Tom Brady's out and the Giants are on a roll.

Hate the Cowboys.

Love their QB.

Complications out my ears.

My movie-making life is rocking. Hear now a top secret, never-to-be-revealed, 100% classified set of lines from one of our not as lame movies, THE SECRET LIFE OF DARTH VADER!!!!!

"Where ya goin' with those chips Darth?"

"Jedi Santita. It would be better for you if you let me and my chips pass. I must get back in time to force-choke Rex Grossman."

"I can't let you do that Darth. Rex Grossman is on my fantasy team!"

And a heated fight ensues. And the crowd goes wild.

How many other lives do I have? I know not. But if they cause trouble, I'll be sure to let you know.

Comment me, people of the world!!!

Reach for the Stars! ~ Lesson 2

Peregrin Took
What is it that draws people to Pippin in THE LORD OF THE RINGS? Is it his fun-loving personality that people can relate to? Is it his cute red curls, funny accent, and delightful hobbit shortness? Is it his ability to break out in song and remain cheerful no matter what the situation? Or his pure love for his friends and the little things that remind us how big his heart is and how brave he really is? He is my favorite character in this movie and book for all of these endearing traits, and especially for his line, "I'm not likely to grow anymore - except sideways."

Gage Ironshanks
I know that you've never heard of him - only a select few have. He is a character I have created in a book I am writing that has no current title. This man hardly warrants the name, having seen only seventeen winters. Gage is an outcast, taken with fits of madness that lead him to do things even he cannot imagine. His scruffy appearance, piercing eyes, and dark demeanor render him almost inapproachable. His tattered cloak flies in and out of trees like a bird of prey. His continuous acts of violence and his frequent proof of a soft heart through it all keeps me, his creator, in suspense. The black sheet that seems to cover his character from my eyes exasperates me. I want to erase everything I have written about him, but it is impossible to do so. His two-sided personality eludes my pen with amazing dexterity as I try to pin him to the page. He is my enemy, yet I am somehow restrained from obliterating him. Perhaps I will one day overcome my forbearance with him and wipe him from the face of the earth.


Ok, whoa. That was WAY dramatic! But, oh well, it's true!!!:)

Reach For the Stars! ~ Lesson 1

Book: The LORD OF THE RINGS
Character: Frodo Baggins
Setting: Middle Earth
Problem: The Dark Lord Sauron's Ring of Power
Plot: Frodo the hobbit must destroy this Ring of Power - or give up their free lands for lost. He is joined on his quest by his friends, who have personal battles of their own to fight. Braving terrible dangers, the fellowship sets out on its journey to Mount Doom - the one place the Ring can be unmade.
Solution: Through the perils of backstabbing traitors, evil wizards, ravenous orcs, and other vicious devices of Sauron, the Ring travels across Middle Earth to the fires of Mount Doom, and is cast into the flame.

VERSE OF THE DAY: Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Colossians 4:2 (I like that there one!)

So.... why am I posting???? I dunno.... hmmm letsee. Oooo! The dog got sick all over the house, but you probably didn't want to know that:z Then Mayfee broke a bowl:z I got BOOKS from the library!!!!!!!!!! Yea!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I got MANNING and THE LAST SIN EATER yesterday. Finished MANNING today and shall start LAST SIN EATER later tonight. Bekah told me to and she and EmNm both said that that was a jolly good movie. Been sick. Still a bit, but I get around. But not as far as the Tobymac/Jeremy Camp/Matthew West concert last night:( Horrid and sad!!!!:( Oh, well. It was Sir Luke's birthday yesterday. Happy Birthday Sir Luke!!!!!!!!!!!!! And thank you (and Nan too apparently) for bringing Emy THE HOBBIT!!!! I tried to tape Super Bowl XLI for Toria today. Watched the whole thing and for some perverse reason it didn't tape!!!!! The rage!!!! I'll try sometime else. I almost know every play, I've watched that game so many times!!!!!! We maybe might do something fun tomorrow like a hike or something! I found a cool hebrew word in Isaiah! It's Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz. Took me a bit to actually say it out loud. It means: "Quick to the plunder, Swift to the spoil!!!!!!!" Whoa!!!! Neat I says!!!!! I think I'll use that sometime! I used an my last iTunes card on a PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN soundtrack. It's DEAD MAN'S CHEST. The organ music isn't as.... full as I expected. When Davy Jones plays the music box song in the movie it sounds SOOO resounding and neat and amazing. Not AS much on the cd, but it is good and I like it. Not EVERYBODY can put a soundtrack together like Howard Shore ya know!

Like I mentioned, Emy is reading the hobbit!!!!!! That makes me happy, but she knows not what Gollum/Smeagol sounds like. So, here it is:

"They're thieves. They're thieves. They're filthy little thieves. Where is it? Where is it? They stole it from us, my precious. Curse them, we hates them! It's ours it is, and we wants it!"

"Cold be heart and hand and bone and cold be travelers far from home."

"They do not see what lies ahead when sun has failed and moon is dead!"

"Musn't ask us, not it's business! Gollum, gollum!"

But Smeag looks REALLY evil in that picture.

"There is a sample of how Gollum talks. I don't suppose you want to hear any more" as Gandalf would say. So, here's something a bit more lighthearted: Boromir reminiscing about his beloved city.

"Have you ever seen it Aragorn? The white tower of Ecthelion, glimmering like a spike of pearl and silver, it's banners caught high in the morning breeze. Have you ever been called home, by the clear ringing of silver trumpets?"

Man, someday I want to be called home by the clear ringing of silver trumpets! That would be the best thing EVER!!!!!!! All eyes are on You, Lord. All eyes are on You.

Funny boys

VERSE OF THE DAY: *~Children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them.~* Psalm 127:3-5

Here are some funny things about the guys around here lately:

• J-dude ~ He gave me a nice birthday card that said "HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAGIN!!!" on it. Heehee! It was so cute! And he apparently taught Jess to spell it too! He called me "Mawmaw" as a baby. He was always kinda Meggy's boy. Now he's Sticks's henchman, but when he has something to spout, or a greivance to file he'll come and sit on my lap still.He's got really pretty eyes and when he learns a new soccer move he shows everybody until he's sure you saw the whole thing. Then he forgets he already showed you and shows you again! He does have a rocket leg! He's learning to read well. He's a loyal guy, and if you're on his side there's no way he's gonna leave. He watched RETURN OF THE KING recently with Drallen as his interpreter and eye coverer (I think the only part he couldn't watch was when the heads were catapulted and it WAS night). He wasn't scared, even when Shelob showed up! He thinks things through and deliberates before making a decision. He loves macaroni & cheese!

• Jess ~ He slurs profusley as he talks! He's a social guy during soccer games, but he does play pretty good in the big room with the guys! He likes XBOX and nerf guns and loud noisy fun! He has HUGE eyes!!!!!!!!! When he was little he called me "Deegan". It was awesome! As middle "little" he keeps his brothers moving! He's got big huge hands and feet. If meat's on the menu, he will have 7 helpings. Definatley the biggest carnivore we have! He's a good reader, but he likes to tell his own stories in between sentences:P Thinking things through IS NOT how he rolls!!!!!!!!
  Mayfee ~ He's got the most attitude of any guy we've had. I guess he's where Bird learns it because they play together a lot. Mayf is his own man and doesn't feel like he has to follow the big guys in order to be one himself. J-dude especially thought that way, but Mayf doesn't do anything unless he wants to, or is commanded by an authority. Like I said, Mayf and Bird are the best playmates and they make up pretty quick in a fight. He's got these eyebrows that can twist any which way!!!!! It is hilarious!!!! I'm pretty sure he could make them come off his head like the cartoons if he wanted!:P He's got a sweet little face. He's good at helping make brownies and the like. He's small for his age and real snuggly. Not like he'd actually LET you snuggle him or anything:P He barely eats anything. I mean, gimme a break, there's so many more fun things to do! He's got one of those open-mouthed giggly smiles! Cute!

• Sticks ~ He's a soccerman. He calls himself a Landon Dono-fan:P Ever since he snuck up on the man himself and high fived him, got his autograph on a rad card, and talked to him he's been Donofanned whenever he sees him on tv. He likes electronics and always beats Dad at FIFA 2007! He likes select books, but doesn't really care about reading them. He likes electronic MONOPOLY (I hate it. Why play? People just cheat and fight and are selfish with money and I spend the whole game {as banker mind you} telling players to shut up and PLAY FAIR!) He's gotten away with only changing a handful of diapers in his whole life. I dunno how, but it's amazing!!!!! He makes up goofy jokes. He's got great impressions of people!!!!!! It's hilarious, nobody else in the house can pull off as many mimicky faces as him. He can do women crying for no reason, sleepy MLS soccer players, bad actors doing what they do best, Thousand Foot Crutch guys' appearances, "welcome to CHILI'S" statues, etc. Oh the wonderful things Mr. Brown can do! He's a pretty good spy too!!!!!! I'm ryming and I don't think I like it. Sometimes he likes to come in the room when I'm reading to the girls and he always likes the story. But then the next morning he rolls his eyes and says he never did. Weapons are too cool!

That's just a little of the funnycute around here. Grandma and Grandpa just left:( Dad's doing... something and Zeke's with Mom.

Will Turner is staring from my calendar. I liked Jack better I think, but Elizabeth is next. Eli Manning is looking to pass above Will. Emy and me are below Will, and letters and cards are below Emy and me. Over my head are Britter, Bekah, and Cole. Above them is Aslan and his prophecy. On either side of him are 2 wooden Ms for Mall and Me. Across the window is Glamdring the Foehammer and on the adjacent wall is Richard the Lionhearted. And on either side of this screen are.... two speakers.

Did I mention before I saved 70 bucks on new bedding things? Well I did!!!!!!! Coupons ROCK BOAT!!!!!!!!!!! Now I have another coupon and I can go get a curtain rod for the preeety purple curtains Grandma made!!!!! My books are some due tommorow too, maybe I can go to the library today. God bless us all, every one!!!!!!

Good throws make good catches. Horrible throws make outstanding catches.

VERSE OF THE DAY: For you are all children of the light and of the day;we don't belong to darkness and night. 1 Thessalonians 5:5

Livin life. So here's what's new...

Grandma H made me some curtains and pillowcases to match my quilt. And are they awesome! Haven't hung the curtains yet, I still need to get a rod. Linens & Things is having a sale, so I think Mom and I will go there. Zekey threw a tantrum when Mom dragged him away from the dog's water. He put his head down on the ground, snot and tears running freely. I just finished listening to the audiobook of Quiet Strength by Tony Dungy. That is a great book! Now I'm finishing the Pride & Prejudice podcast. Reading INKHEART to get an idea of the movie. Some bad language, so I'm a bit concerned for the watchers' welfare on account of Hollywood's lean toward that. But I dunno, maybe it'll be good. I hope it will! In church we're starting a new series on heaven. You don't hear a lot of sermons on that, and it was pretty good! There's so many things to imagine about it that we don't know. Also reading FAIREST out loud to the girls and it's just great! Reading Jane Eyre and skipped ahead to make sure she marries the guy. She does, so no worries. Here's where they meet the dwarf in my book - the rough copy.

The woods were quiet. Very, very quiet. Trojan walked along, gathering firewood - dead firewood, and keeping a watchful eye for Human Orcs. It seemed impossible that they could be so near in such silence. He picked up a dry branch and turned back toward the camp. He heard a twig crack behind him. Trojan whirled around, hand on his sword. Nothing. Just woods. He slowly walked backwards towards the camp, and heard somebody breathing behind him. If this was Huntram or Lendryn, he thought, they had better hold sufficient reason for stalking him. He turned his head, and there stood a small, stout being, with a firey red beard, axe at the ready. The dwarf received a face full of wood, while Trojan whirled around again. A rough looking man darted behind a tree and fired an arrow at him. Trojan dodged it and let out a eagle call, which was the emergency signal for the others. He ran towards the tree, but the bowman was gone again. "He must be a ranger or an elf" thought Trojan, facing the dwarf. The axe swung here and there with a couple of near-misses. Eldarion rushed up and the surprised dwarf felt the cool of metal on the back of his neck. He froze. Trojan and Huntram kicked around in the bushes for the bowman, but he was nowhere to be found. "Drop your weapon!" Eldarion snapped to the dwarf.

"Never!" he barked back. "I pledge my weapons, not surrender them!"

Eldarion raised his brows. Lendryn could tell he was impressed. "Rarely have I seen such bravery, nor such foolishness. Tell me," he said, allowing the dwarf to turn around. "Since you pledge your weapons, I wonder who you pledge them to? The highest bidder, perhaps?"

The dwarf looked disgusted. "You jest! Once a dwarf's loyalties are set they are set in stone! My allies are those who hate Gastro and the Human Orcs"

Eldarion nodded musingly and sheathed his sword. Huntram expected the dwarf to strike, but it did not. "We may keep the same company then. What is your name?"

"Maab Kuldar of the Iron Hills."

"That's where we're from!" Huntram blurted excitedly.

"Silence!" Eldarion snapped.

Trojan was still angry. "And who was your friend?" Maab looked curiously at him. "That sneaky fellow with the bow."

"He is Gage. And he's not with me."

"And how is it that you two travel this land in which you have no business?" Trojan asked in a rough voice.

Maab looked his hate. "I have not pledged my loyalties, not to you, cloaked man. What do you suspect of my business to ask it? And how comes it to be your business to ask mine?"

Eldarion took over. "Why are you in Mirkwood?"

"I could ask the very same question to you!"

People could only toy with Eldarion for so long. He raised his voice and drew his sword again. "It appears that you are at our mercy, so if you want to spare your life than you will do yourself a favor by answering what I ask you!"

Maab's face became more controlled but he remained undaunted. "I do not give information until I know who I am giving it to. Who are you and your companions? Where do yout loyalties lie?"

"This is Trojan Strongsword of Gondor. These are Huntram and Lendryn Shaster. This is Brithil the Elf from Mirkwood. Our loyalties lie away from the king."

Maab waited. When he got no further introduction, he asked "And you?" Eldarion glanced at Trojan, who kept his eyes on the ground and shook his head.

"I am Cyras of Gondor. Now tell us your business."

The dwarf seemed hesitant to answer. "I seek a man."

"What man?" Trojan snapped.

"Eldarion son of Aragorn." Trojan, Brithil, and Eldarion maintained their expressions, but the boys gasped and looked at Eldarion. It did no harm as Eldarion was already speaking. "Your search is over, Friend dwarf. I am Eldarion son of Aragorn." Trojan made an astonished noise and looked as if their whole quest had been betrayed. Eldarion continued, "If you are a spy which I see that you are decidedly not, we are too many for you. If you are a friend, look into my eyes and see that it is so."

Gee whiz, that is awful. And the only reason Eldarion knows he's not a spy is because he has certain abilities. It's not foolish assumption. Please don't think any less of me for having a terrible bit of scribble on the internet. I'd better leave, the spell check on this thing is going nuts! Heehee!

Prologue of my what happens after LOTR book.

The first draft, keep in mind. It will be better eventually.

Eldarion, king of Gondor rode for his very life under a black sky. Men everywhere were seemingly in a trance, making their way slowly toward the dark castle of Minas Tirith. The king had tried to stop them, but they would not be detained or seemed to notice any of his warnings. But it was what was coming out of the city that worried him more. Orcs that were not tortured elves, but tortured men pursed him hotly and at breakneck speed.
Eldarion was afraid.
Thunder rolled almost constantly as he reached the little town of Osgiliath. More men were walking out, transfixed toward the city, all at the same pace. Their eyes did not move from the city nor did they speak, despite the pleading of their hysterical wives and children who had no power to stop them. Indeed, no one did.
Lightning struck.
The town was in confusion. The king rode in, looking about wildly. No one seemed to notice him through the wailing of the women and the screaming because of the approaching ocs.
Wind Blew.
A old woman opened her door and saw him. "Great King! Come inside! We will hide you!" Eldarion lept off his horse and it fled in fear. The king ran into the dwelling and the woman locked the door, and proceeded to close all the curtains. Her husband stood near, his sword drawn. Their son clung to his father, an eight year old lad with wide, jet-black eyes. "I put you all in danger! The orcs want me!"
"Say nothing of it, Your Highness. We are put in danger either way." The woman beckoned him to a secret door in the floorboards. Eldarion leaped in. He heard Orcs in the village. He heard grunts, smashing of glass, doors being splintered, and people screaming in terror.
They were being slain.
The King pushed the trapdoor open in anger and quickly climbed out. "My Lord!" The woman loudly whispered. "No! You will be killed!"
"It is my life they want! Not those of my people!" he ran to the door. The young boy poked his head fearfully out from under the bed only to unintentionally haunt Eldarion with his deep, frightened eyes. Before the king could turn the doorknob, he heard the boy cry, "Father? Father no!" and emerge from hiding to grab the old man's cloak. The man was walking toward the black city, eyes staring straight ahead. The woman tried also to hinder him, but orcs were upon the house. The woman pushed her son into the trapdoor while her husband walked out of the house. She ran to follow him. "No!" the King called, but it was too late. The orcs slew her. He gritted his teeth and prepared to charge into the pack of orcs, but he felt his foot being grasped. Two surprisingly strong hands jerked him into the hatch and locked the door.
Thunder rolled.

So there ya have it. What happens next.... not telling.

Life this Week

VERSE OF THE DAY: Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. John 16:33

Mace, Potato, Lane, Sticks, and I went to this youth thing called COLA WARS at our church. Man, it was rough!!!! We had a game called "Crack the 6-pack" where 6 people hooked arms sitting down and six other people tried to rip them apart. There was hair-pulling and somebody really came down on my wrist with their foot. Ow! There was one point where Sticks and Tate (who were the smallest ones there) were being dragged ten yards away from the others, about four feet off the ground by a few big guys. They were sticking together like a mouse and a sticky trap and the big guys didn't pull them apart! It was funny, but I thought they were gonna get dropped on their heads. Then there was a game where there were two tubes and each team had to fight for them and bring them back to their line. Killed my nail and bled a bit, but I didn't notice till the games were over. Bet I got blood on the shirt of the girl I was hanging on to in the horse game. Some people held on to each other's waist's in a line and the other team had to jump up on you to try to make you fall. I didn't fall, and I didn't really jump on the other team either, but Mace was over there getting some elbow in the head:P Then I think that's it for the fun games. We went inside and had some pizza then! Funfunfun! I think it would've been a lot Funfunfunner if I knew people there.

Yesterday Imo, Mangnay, Grandma, Aunt Mich, Chlo-chlo, Twinkletoes, Lane, Lucy, Mom and I went to a fundraiser tea at the oldest hotel in CO. It was a really pretty building!! There was a couple of Nutcracker dances and a magic show. We thought the tea was at 12pm but then we find it was at 2pm. So we had to wait a bit. But it was pretty fun!

All of us before the tea

So that's what's up. My computer won't turn on. Tis quite annoying to me! I'm on Dad's. Hi Dad! Can you fix my computer?

Happy August!!!

VERSE OF THE DAY: If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. James 1:5




BOOK OF THE DAY: the RED BADGE of COURAGE


1 more month till Fall!!! Can't wait. The air is so thick here you have to take scissors and cut yourself a way through!!!:)
Ya know I've had this blog for over a year! Whoa! I wonder how long I'll have it? Maybe till I have kids!!! Heehee! But when I get married I'll change the mt part of the site to m-whatever.
The nose piece popped off my glasses and I don't know where it is. I'll need to take that to Wal-Mart.
Started that book of the day and like it so far! I think Dad described it as "the best novel in the whole world". And if you were gonna read Dr Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, don't. Not worth the time and when the other stories in there got a little...supernatural I quit it. I miss Lane and Sticks and Dad:( Dad couldn't get a flight to CO, so he's staying with Grandparents T and Lane & Sticks. I think he's gonna drive up with them.
I like the verse of the day today! He'll give it to us! I think we all could use some wisdom huh? Here's something Warrior of the Dawn wrote and I went, "Wow! So true and awesome!" so I'll stick it on here:

I serve a King whom I have never seen. I had spit in His face and rebelled against His rule, thus earning the penalty of death. But He sent His Son to die in my place and then adopted me as His child. Everything I do, everything I am, it all comes back to that. He isn't just number one in my life; He's everything. At least, He should be; too often I still rebel against Him and break His heart. But He loves me anyway. Even cooler than the fact that He does all that for me is that He's willing to do all that for you, too. If you want that, just call on the Name of Jesus.

God Bless!