Novel Chapter

Wyoming Sky

Chapter One

                Looking up at the beaming Wyoming summer sun, Emma Dodge pulls her pale yellow bonnet over her deep red curls, which fall to the middle of her back, and goes back to weeding her vegetable and herb garden.  I love being outside even if it does cause me to freckle, she thinks to herself.  Working diligently, she looks up to see a rider on a horse coming towards the house.  She stands up and dusts the dirt off of her apron, straightens her blue calico dress, and walks to meet the rider.  As the rider approaches, Emma recognizes him to be Preston Walker, the foreman at the Bar S Ranch. 

She’s wearing the blue dress, he thinks, which just so happens to be my favorite dress!  The blue calico dress that Emma is wearing has a square neck with white lace around the inside, sleeves that come to her elbows with more of the same white lace around them, and the hem barely covers her boots.

He slows Stormy, the gray mare, to a stop and dismounts, coming over to talk to Emma still holding the reins in his hand. 

“How pleasant it is to see you, Preston,” Emma greets him with a smile.

“The pleasure is all mine, believe me.”

“What brings you to the Circle D Ranch, today?”

“I have an urgent matter of business to speak to you father about.  Do you know where he is?”

“Well, this morning he said that he was heading out to the back range in order to round up some of the herd.  Will you please allow me to fix you a glass of lemonade before you ride out there in this heat?”

“Thank you, Emma.  That sounds wonderful; after all, your lemonade is the best in the county.”

“I wish you wouldn’t always bring up the county fair.”  As Emma says this, she blushes.

Emma leads Preston up on the porch where he ties Stormy’s reins to the hitching post. (trained to stay put with reigns dropped) Walking into the log cabin, Emma walks across the pine hardwood floor through the living room with the big stone fireplace on the north wall, a bookcase on the west wall and a built-in bench under the window on the east wall.  She continues into the dining room where there is a table with six chairs and a china cabinet is on the south wall, then finally into the kitchen.  She looks out the back door while squeezing three lemons, and sees her mother and little sister at the spring-fed creek behind the house washing clothes.  After adding a half of cup of sugar and three cups of water to the squeezed lemons into the glass pitcher, the lemonade is ready.  Emma reaches for the wooden tray that her grandfather had made and places the glass pitcher and two glasses on it and carries it back to the front porch.  “Here we are,” she says as she attempts to come out of the screen door.  Preston grabs the door handle and holds it open for her while she says, “why thank you very much!”

“No problem, just happy to help,” replies Preston.

She hands a glass of lemonade to Preston, “oh, be careful it might be a little tart,” as he makes the most awful-looking face. 

“I wouldn’t just say a little tart, it is very tart!”

a

                As Preston rides Stormy across the Wyoming hillside, his mind returns to Emma back at the Circle D ranch house.  She is wonderful, so kind and caring.  What more could a man ask for?  Lord, she’s everything I ever wished for.  If it is Your will, I pray that You work everything out.  I know that nothing is possible without You, please help me to remember that and not to try to do things on my own time.  Thank You, Lord for everything that You have given to me.  Amen. 

After he finishes praying, he starts singing in his baritone voice, “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me!  I once was lost, but now I’m found; was blind but now I see.” A mule deer comes to the edge of the forest during the middle of the first verse; he quickly bounds away after catching a glimpse of Preston.  Preston continues singing the other five verses until he reaches the back range where Mr. Dodge is rounding up cattle.

“Good day to you, Mr. Dodge” Preston calls to Mr. Dodge as he takes a break from rounding up twenty head of Texas longhorns. 

“Why, Preston, what brings you out here?”

“I have an urgent matter of business to discuss with you,” Preston says as he dismounts from Stormy.

“Well what is it, man?”  Mr. Dodge asks impatiently, for in Texas where he is from, an urgent matter of business could possibly lead to your death, the death of a loved one, the death of your whole herd of cattle or your daughter’s hand in marriage.

“About fifteen head of Mr. Stephens’ highland cattle were cut out of the herd about two nights ago.  We haven’t been able to find them, so we thought that you could help us keep a look out for them.  All the cattle have the Bar S brand on them.  I also wanted to warn you in hopes that none of your longhorns go missing.”

“I appreciate the gesture, Preston, and I will keep an eye out for them.  Has anyone else’s cattle gone missing?”

“Not that we can tell, right now, sir.  Do you need any help with rounding the herd up?”

“Thanks, Preston, but I can handle it.  I imagine that they need your help back at the Bar S Ranch, it seems like the hands can’t do anything without you.”

“I suppose you’re right and that I should head that way then.  Good day to you, Mr. Dodge.”  Preston mounts Stormy and heads her towards the Bar S Ranch.

“Same to you Preston!”

Preston rides through the meadow where he sees a bald eagle preying on a cottontail rabbit.  The bald eagle reminds him of the verse in Isaiah that his mother taught him as a child, “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

He continues thinking about the verse until he reaches the Bar S Ranch.  As usual, the hands are lying around after their noon meal. When the hands see Preston ride up and they jump up to get back to work.

a

“I guess that it’s about one o’clock in the afternoon,” Ian McMillen says to himself as he lifts his brown Stetson cowboy hat and wipes his dusty brown hair from his forehead.  He rides for thirty more minutes on a chestnut and white paint mare, which he calls Star because of the star on her forehead, until he reaches Fort Fred Steele. 

Ian is a cowboy from Fort Worth, Texas, I really need a job, but where would someone ask about jobs in the area, he thinks to himself.  I’m sure that they might know of some jobs at the general store, I’ll try there first.  He rides Star up to the hitching post and ties the reins to the post and heads toward the store.  Just before he walks into the store he realizes that his chaps are covered in dirt and quickly dusts them off.   He walks into the general store with his spurs clanking along the wooden floor.

“Good afternoon, sir.  How may I help you,” asks the store clerk.

“Well, I’m looking for a job in the area.  Do you know of anyone who could use a hand with cattle?”

“Let’s see, the other week when Mr. Dodge of the Circle D Ranch came in he said that he needed more help.”

“Do you know how to get to the Circle D Ranch?”

The clerk scratches his head while thinking, and then replies, “I guess that you go about 50 miles north of town.  You’ll find the Circle D and the Bar S ranches up there.  Just ask around when you get up there.”

“Thank you very much, sir. I greatly appreciate it,” Ian says as he exits the store.  After he walks out of the store, he heads toward the hotel for a drink.

 Ian comes out of the hotel, walks back towards the general store where Star is tied to the hitching post.  He unties and mounts Star.  He heads toward the Circle D Ranch; however, he will not reach there before dark, so he camps underneath the big Wyoming sky.

a

            Emma looks out the window in the living room.  The rest of the family has gone to bed, but she remains up.  The stars are so beautiful tonight, she thinks to herself.  God, it’s amazing that you have counted all the stars in the sky and you know them by name.  You are so amazing, but why do I struggle giving You the little things in my life?  Lord, please give me the faith to trust You with every aspect of my life and quit holding onto things that I cannot change nor have control over.  Amen.

**Spoiler Alert**:  Who does Emma choose? Does she choose Preston, the sensible, reliable one willing to give a helping hand? Or does she choose Ian, the new cowboy in town who lives for adventure and danger?  She has to find within her own heart what she really wants.  What if she makes the wrong decision?  Will her family disown her or will they love her no matter what?

Any feedback is MORE THAN WELCOME!!  Thanks!

Short Story

So I'm in a Creative Writing class and this was one of the assignments.  Tell me what you think!

True Love

        Aubrey steps out of the carriage in front of the Grand Hotel in Monte Carlo.  Her dark brown hair shines in the sun against her olive complexion.  Her eyes match her dress of blue.  Her aunt, Lady Bennett, follows Aubrey out of the carriage.  As they enter the Grand Hotel and register for their room, two young gentlemen notice Aubrey’s outward beauty. The clerk gives them Room number 412 and Aubrey with her aunt goes up to their room, leaving the gentlemen curious as to who the young lady is.  Upon arrival at their room, Aubrey and her aunt unpack their elegant dresses and hang them in the wardrobe.  Aubrey rests upon the sofa next to the window overlooking the street below while Lady Bennett sits in a chair across the room reading a book written by Jane Austen. 

“Have you ever seen a more beautiful place,” Aubrey asks her aunt. 

“I have, but only on the country hillside in Scotland when the heather grows.”

œ

          After a few hours of rest, Aubrey dresses for dinner in her emerald green satin dress and Lady Bennett puts on a dress of grey taffeta.  The maid curls their hair and places it in a pile on their heads.  Upon returning downstairs for dinner, Aubrey and her aunt make the acquaintance of Weston and his dear friend, Phillip, the two gentlemen who were so eagerly intrigued by Aubrey’s arrival to Monte Carlo.   Weston asks, “May we be so bold, but to ask you to join us at our table for dinner tonight?”

Aubrey looks at Lady Bennett awaiting her answer.  Lady Bennett just nods her head.  “We would be delighted,” replied Aubrey.

“Then right this way.” Aubrey takes Weston’s offered arm as he leads her into the elaborate dining room, while Phillip accompanies Lady Bennett in as well.  The four acquaintances sit down at a table in the far left corner of the dining room. 

The waiter walks up and announces, “Tonight’s dinner special is leg of lamb with scalloped potatoes and fresh green beans.”  Everyone agrees that the special sounds delicious. 

Weston starts the conversation with, “So what brings you to Monte Carlo?”

          “Well, my aunt suggested that we take a holiday.  I suggested that we come to Monte Carlo since I have never been here before and always heard that it was lovely.”

          “I am very glad that you, Lady Bennett, suggested a holiday and you, Aubrey, chose to come to Monte Carlo.” 

          Phillip sits at the table staring at Aubrey.  She has such natural beauty; she would look beautiful in braids and a simple cotton dress with an apron.  I don’t know what it is about her.

          “I’m also very glad that I was able to come to Monte Carlo.  It’s so beautiful here.  There are so many things that I want to see,” replied Aubrey.

          “I think I also speak for Phillip when I say this, but we would be happy to show you around Monte Carlo tomorrow morning, that is if it is okay with you aunt, of course.”

          “It is fine with me as long as you take the maid with you,” said Lady Bennett.

          “Well then, what time should we meet,” asks Weston.

          “Say about eight o’clock in the morning in the lobby of the hotel,” suggests Aubrey.

          “Sounds grand, we will meet you there!”

          “After a grand tour of Monte Carlo, we will go for a ride along the cliffs,” Phillip adds.

          They finished their dinner and went their separate ways.  I’m so excited about tomorrow; I wish that I did not have to take the maid with me.  Weston is such a handsome man, but Phillip is too for that matter.  Phillip doesn’t talk much, I wish I could get to know him better, maybe tomorrow. Aubrey, lying in bed, sighs as she thinks to herself. 

œ

Morning comes quickly as Aubrey gets up in time to see the sunrise over the water.  I love this time of the morning when everything is so peaceful.  God’s creations are so abundant at this time of the morning.  Anyone can see His fingerprints all over everything.  For someone to say there is no God, they would have to be blind, deaf, and dumb.  She quickly dresses in her pale pink dress and eats some breakfast before she meets the gentlemen in the lobby.  She arrives in the lobby accompanied by the maid at ten ‘til eight and they sit in corner chairs awaiting the men’s arrival.  They walk through the door, notice her almost immediately, and start walking her direction.

“How are you this fine day,” asks Phillip.

          “Quite well, thank you, and how are you, Phillip,” replies Aubrey.

          “Never been better, I hope that you are ready for a day full of adventure.”

          “Oh, yes, I definitely am.  How are you today, Weston?”

          “I’m grand, even better since I saw you this morning.  Are you ready for the grand tour of Monte Carlo?”

“Yes, I am, just let me grab my parasol and I’ll be ready to go.”

This time, Phillip offers his arm before Weston can.  Aubrey gracefully slips her arm onto his.  Sudden chills travel down Phillip’s spine.  I’ve never had a feeling like this before, Phillip thinks, no other girls give me this feeling.  There’s something different about Aubrey than most girls, though.  I cannot put my finger on what it is, but I have to find out what it is. 

They walk outside of the hotel and Weston climbs into the carriage first and offers his hand to help Aubrey and her maid inside.  She truly is beautiful and I imagine that she is the heir to Lady Bennett’s estate, Weston thinks.  They tour Monte Carlo with the gentlemen pointing out the sights. 

“Would you mind if I took lunch in my room and a quick rest after our tour is over?  I could later meet you at the seashore for a ride along the cliffs, if that is alright,” asks Aubrey.

“I am alright with that.  Phillip, how about you,” replies Weston.

“That is fine by me.  How about we meet you at the seashore around one-thirty this afternoon?  Is that enough time for you to eat and rest for a while?”

“Oh yes, that is plenty of time.  Thank you very much for understanding!”

After the tour was over, Aubrey heads to her room for lunch and a quick rest.  “I do believe that I will have lunch in my room, Aunt.  There are some things that I need to think about.”  Aubrey quickly walks into her peaceful and quiet room.  Her lunch is brought in by the maid.  Heavenly Father, Aubrey prays, I am not sure what all is going on here.  Weston is handsome, but he has no depth.  Phillip is also handsome, but so quiet that it is almost hard to get to know him.  Lord, just lead me in the direction that You want me.  I have faith that You know what is going on and the way things are supposed to be.  Thank You for loving me and giving Your Son to die for my sins.  Amen.

œ

Joining Weston and Phillip, once again, this time at the seashore for a carriage ride by the cliffs, Aubrey notices Weston’s blond hair and Phillip’s black hair blowing in the wind.  I do not know which one I like more, she thinks. 

While riding along the cliffs, Weston asks, “Are you coming to the grand gala tonight?”

“I did not know that there was even a gala tonight.  Of course, I will have to check with my aunt to see if she approves.  I am sure that she will, for she too loves a grand gala.”

œ

All eyes are fixed upon Aubrey’s grandness as she gracefully floats down the stairs of the luxurious ballroom in a velvet dress of ruby; however, one pair of eyes sees more than just her outer beauty, they see her majestic inner beauty and what her true character is.  Once she reaches the bottom of the stairs, everyone seems to stand in awe of her.  As she makes her way around the room, a clear path is made until she comes upon one of the pair eyes that do not see her inner beauty.  She stares deeply into the huge amber brown eyes, which belonged to the dashing young gentleman, Weston.  He reaches for her hand and leads her out onto the ballroom floor, where they share a dance to Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. 

Several more dances follow, which are filled with conversation, yet this conversation is not verbal but the silent reading of each other’s inner self through their eyes.  Some say that the eyes are the gateway to the heart; well they believe it with all their hearts.  He is everything that she had wants in a man, and she is all he could ever wish for or at least hoped for.  They eventually leave the elusive ballroom to get some fresh air on the veranda.  It is a star-lit night; the sky is so clear that the stars look like diamonds sparkling on a background of black velvet.  They stand under the star-lit sky for what seems like hours, deep in conversation.  Yet not a word is spoken; however, a great multitude of feelings are expressed.  He gently leans in toward her warm body and gently caresses her lips with his soft kisses.  She is in complete shock, since she has always dreamed of this day; yet, it is never this perfect in her dreams.  Phillip, who is waiting just inside the door to the veranda, sees the whole thing and quickly rushes away from the door, feeling utterly betrayed, to return to dancing with another partner.

“I have a question,” says Weston.

“What is it may I ask,” replies Aubrey.

“Are you the heir to Lady Bennett’s estate?”

“Heavens no!  I am very grateful not to be.  Money means nothing to me; don’t get me wrong, I am glad that she asked me to accompany her to Monte Carlo; however, her estate goes to my eldest brother, Thomas.  Why do you ask?”

“I was just curious, that’s all.”

“Are you sure, because something seems wrong?”

“Yes I’m sure that nothing is wrong; how about we head back inside now?”

Later, they return to the grand ballroom with all eyes fixed on them.  However, the charming gentleman’s father interrupts their beautiful romantic evening.  He asks his son whether there is anyone that his son would marry.  Much to Aubrey’s dismay, Weston replied that there is no one that he could or even would marry at the gala tonight.  At these words, Aubrey feels her glass heart break into millions of pieces cascading to the floor.  With tears streaming down her face as raindrops, she runs out of the ballroom in disbelief.  Phillip sees Aubrey run out of the ballroom and follows her at a cautious distance.  Aubrey runs to her favorite, most comforting place in the gardens, a place where the beautiful red roses bloom.  Their fragrance comforts her pain until she ceases her crying.  Phillip decides to take a walk around the garden, when he finds Aubrey sitting among the roses.  “What is the matter,” he asks. 

“Weston said that he would not marry me.  I thought that he loved me, but obviously I was wrong.  He asked about my aunt’s estate and if I was the heir.  I told him that I was not the heir and that is when he almost turned cold toward me.”

“I’m sure that Weston does not know what he is missing by letting you walk out of his life; I, on the other hand, know that I would be missing the best thing in my life if I allow you to leave this garden tonight without telling you this.”

“Excuse me” she asks amongst sniffles.

“Aubrey, I have fallen in love with you the moment I met you.  You had feelings for Weston, I could see that and I didn’t want to get in the middle of that.  I always knew that he never was the one for you.  I want the best for you and I believe that I’m the best for you.”  Taking her hand, “Aubrey, I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

This came as a blow to Aubrey.  She had no idea that Phillip even cared for her in that way.  Now looking back, she could see the times when he had done something nice for her, but she just thought that he was being a gentleman.  She looked into his green eyes and knew that he was telling her the truth.  She could see the love in his eyes and beaming from the rest of his face. 

Weston never saw her again for the rest of his life, but every second of everyday he regretted letting his one and only true love out of his life.  Aubrey went on to love again, and with love came the happiness and comfort that she found the night of the grand gala. 

What can I say ... I'm a hopeless romantic!!!

This week is Revival at my church, and I know that I have needed it.  Here is what I have written down as well as his handouts:

Saturday Night

Jeremiah 17:9

How is your heart?

• We build walls around our heart to prevent getting hurt.  This changes our heart; this then changes our lives.
• We learn to change our behavior to avoid the “bad” things, but we never change our heart.  The diseases attack our heart and eat away at us, thus poisoning our relationships.
• These diseases are: 
• Guilt
• Anger
• Greed
• Jealousy

–      Matthew 12:34 – “… out of the abundance of our heart the mouth speaks” also see Matthew 15:18.

–      Proverbs 4:23 – “guard your heart” – whatever is in our hearts turns into actions and words.

Guard you heart by:

·         Identifying the disease within.

·         Assume responsibility for their presence.  Quit playing the blame game.

o   We begin to do what’s right, then change; not the other way around.

o   John 8:31-32 – “truth shall make you free” AFTER continuing in the word.

o   Romans 12:2 – “be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed …” – be changed by thinking new thoughts.

Challenge:  Ask God to show you the diseases of your heart.

·         Psalms 139:23-24 – search my heart and see if there be any wicked way in me.

·         Make a commitment with God:  whatever you show me the week, help me to change it.

**We need to recognize that we need to help others recognize the diseases of their hearts.

Sunday Morning

“Guilt”

Guilt says “I owe you.”

·         Guilt causes us to compensate, for what … for what has been stolen.

·         We experience guilt related to us doing something wrong.  Every time we do something wrong, we take something.

·         The only way to make things right is to “pay up”.

·         The one thing that will relieve our heart’s guilt is to pay it off.

·         How do we pay off the debt?  We expose them to light!  Guilt slowly sucks the life out of us.  Confession is the way of exposing guilt to light.

·         What does the Bible teach us about confession:

o   1 John 1:9 – if we confess, then He forgives us.  Confession isn’t about relieving our conscience; it’s about changing our hearts.  If we confess just to make us feel better, then we are INSULTING God!

o   Mark 1:4-5 – repentance is related to confession.  It’s a public step towards abandoning your sin.

o   Numbers 5:6-7 – restitution is also related to confession.  It’s about making things right to the person you wronged.

Pay them back in full, plus 20%.

·         Zacchaeus saw Jesus for who he was and he knewthat he had to pay his debts.  Zacchaeus gave 50% of what he had to the poor and he repaid each person he had cheated four times the amount.

o   Luke 19:8-9 – your actions show the evidence of a changed heart.

o   Matthew 5:23-24 – our relationship with other people directly affects our relationship with God.  Confessing to God never replaces confessing to the people we have wronged

·         When we lower our pride (humility), guilt declines.

·         God may have forgiven you, but the people you’ve wronged might still be mad at you.

·         Repaying others is the only was to release the hold of guilt in our heart.

Sunday Afternoon

“Anger”

Anger is the result of not getting what we want.

·         Anger says “You owe me.”  The debt of anger can NEVER be paid.  It must be cancelled.  If left untreated, anger will get worse and spread to every aspect of our life.

·         What’s the story behind being angry? ~ Because of your anger, you no longer control your life, the person who angered you does.

·         How long will you allow them to control your life?

·         To cure the disease of anger is to cancel the debt!  Forgive the people who “owe” you.

o   Ephesians 4:31-32 – abandon ALL (100%) things that are negative (Get rid of it!!) and replace it with something positive.  It is the act of forgiveness that relieves the bitterness of anger.  “Even as” takes forgiveness to a whole new level.

o   Matthew 18:21-35 – Peter thought that forgiveness is for the benefit of the other person, but it’s not.  It’s for YOUR benefit! “…and forgave (cancelled) the debt” – forgiveness is the decision to cancel the debt.

§  Part of the change is that you forgive others (cancel others’ debts).

§  Jesus’ definition:  I forgave all of your debt (v. 32).  Verse 35 is the key!

§  If you demand payment, then you’re the one who pays.  If you cancel the debt, you’re the one set free.

·         God forgave us at the cost of His son.  What does it cost us to forgive?  Maybe pride (humility), forgiveness is a gift from one undeserving person to another.

·         Stop thinking about what’s been done to you and think about what’s been done for you.

·         Forgiveness isn’t just an action, it’s a mindset.  We do it in spite of how we feel because we know it’s the right thing to do.

·         Forgiveness isn’t about forgetting the past, it’s cancelling the debt.

How to cure anger:

·         Identify the people who owe you.

·         Determine what they owe you.  General feelings don’t determine what they did.

·         Cancel the debt!

·         Dismiss the case.

o   You don’t have to tell the person that you forgave them.  Cancelling the debt is between you and God.

o   When memories of past hurts flood your mid, take the opportunity to state what you’ve done.  Then thank God for allowing you to forgive them.

Monday Night

“Greed”

Greed says “I owe me.”

·         It’s always hungry.  It’s appetite will never be satisfied.  It’s like cancer in your heart.  It feeds on you and grows and spreads until it consumes you.

·         Greed is a different kind of disease than guilt and anger.  It hides itself behind good thing like saving, budgeting, planning, and secure futures.

·         It’s hard to see in the mirror, but easily seen in and by others.  Greed isn’t a financial issue; it’s a disease of the heart.

o   Luke 12:15-21 – take heed means WATCH OUT!!  We need to watch out for every type of greed, because of all of the diseases of the heart greed is the hardest to detect (diagnose).  Your life isn’t measured by the stuff that you have.  ~ How much stuff do you have?  How much is too much?  Greedy people never have enough, there’s always a reason to get more stuff.  When does having enough become too much.  We have to have courage and humility to look in the mirror and allow God to show us our greed.  Greed constantly grows because of our “need” for stuff.

§  “Lord, what do you want me to do with the extra?”

§  Jesus’ definition of a greedy person:  “He that lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

§  If we hold on to more than we give away, we lose everything twice!

§  This story defines greed from God’s prospective and it gives us the solution.

·         Why do I have so much? ~ the question should be:  Why has God provided me so much more than I need? – maybe it’s so we can leave more for our kids (no), He provides it so that we won’t worry (no), to raise our standard of living (no), so we can retire early (no), so that we can be rich toward Him (give it back to Him!!).

·         Greed is conquered by generosity.  Don’t wait for the next extra to give, begin giving NOW!!  Give to the point that it forces you to adjust your lifestyle!

·         Greed isn’t a feeling; it’s a refusal to act.  Good intentions can live alongside greed in our heart.  It’s there and dangerous.

How to cure greed:

·         Start giving!  Don’t wait to become cheerful!

·         Give everything you own to God.  It eliminates so much stress in you life.  Give it all to God, He’s given it all to you!

·         Become a percentage giver.  Don’t be foolish in not giving God His 10%.  Either don’t give it to God (He’ll take it from you plus interest) or give it to Him to begin with.  Give God His 10% and then some.  Start to learn to live off of less.  You can’t out-give God.

·         Be a spontaneous giver.  If you see a need, GIVE!

o   Determine how to be a good manager by how the owner wants you to.

**Challenge:  Give everything you have to God.

Tomorrow's message coming later...

I figured it was time for an update ...

anyways, my life has been interesting the past few weeks.  I am failing both of my classes, so your prayers would be greatly appreciated.  I don't know what I will do if I don't pass.  I believe that this is what God wants me to do.  If anyone has any suggestions on how to pass Adult Health I and Mental Health, that would awesome.  I'll take all the help that I can get.  We're having revival at my church Nov 17-20, if anyone would like to come.  I believe that we're having a youth activity on Saturday night.  Anyways, I guess I either need to study or go to sleep.  I need some focus and motivation!  God Bless!

Update

Due to lack of free time, I wasn't able to keep ya'll informed.  So to get you up to date, here's what happened this summer ...

1. I was overworked and underpaid.
2. I made tons of new friends.
3. I passed out in the ER with a kid ... this later led to tests being ran and finding out that I have neurocardiogenic syncope (fancy name for my brain and my heart don't communicate correctly).
4. I freaked the above mentioned kid out, who at first said it was cool.
5. I was put on medication for the syncope which led to weight gain ... thus none of my jeans fit.
6. I was Maid of Honor in my best friend's wedding.
7. Church camp was a blast and my girls loved it!
8. Tacky Prom is a lot of fun and I really enjoyed it.
9. I bought new jeans that would fit.
10. I was taken off that medication because I went into heart block during a tilt table test (my heart rate went from 80 to 27 (not cool at all)) and put on a new medication with REALLY bad side effects.
11. I lost the weight, so now my old jeans fit.
12. I went and saw Neal and my other Bend friends last week.
13. I'm trying to eat helathier and get in shape.
14. I started school today!
15. I passed my medication math test! wo0t!

I think that's pretty much it.  If I remember anything else, I'll post it.  I'm going to try to keep this updated more, I keep saying that with the hopes that it will actually happen one day.