On the Horizon

Happy Thanksgiving! Here's another story for you.

On the Horizon

It was decided. Truth and Patience were both going to the new world. I was worried and I could tell that Mother was too. We all felt a little bit better about Patience leaving, since she would be wed to John and they would go together. Truth seemed so young, he was only seventeen. Mother kept asking him if he was sure and he kept saying he was.

“Mother,” he would say calmly, “ I feel like this is the right thing to do. It's what God is calling me to do.”

And she couldn't argue with that. In the weeks leading up to Patience's wedding and their departure, our little Dutch home was a flurry of activity. I sometimes helped Mother as she made of lovely dress for Patience.

One day, as I was doing my chores when the realization hit me. In two weeks, my older brother and sister would leave and I would never see them again. Trying to ignore the thoughts, the pain, I rushed through the rest of my chores. Then I ran into my room and began to sob.

“Why God?!!!” I screamed, “why do you want to take them away?”

A few minutes later, I felt a warm hand on my shoulder. “Purity,” my sister said softly. “Why do you have to go?”I mumbled.

“ Oh, Purity,” she sighed, “I'm going because John and I decided it was what God wanted us to do. To get away from the hustle and bustle of the world and create a community devoted to Him.”

“Yeah,” I sniffed, “But why does God want to take you away from us?”

“Take us away?” Questioned a deeper voice. It was Truth standing in my doorway. “He's not taking us away from you. The Lord is only moving where our bodies are. We'll always truly be together.”

“But I'll miss you!” I cried, and we all fell into each other's arms.

Patience looked extra beautiful as she stood with John in her dress on her wedding day. After the ceremony, people gathered in our home for a meal celebrating the couple. The two of them looked radiant together, but they had a faraway look in their eyes. Truth had it too. They were ready to go.

And the next day, they did. Everything they needed to start a new colony was already in the boats. As people filed onto the Mayflower, Mother embraced them all at least four times. Then it was time for them to board.

“ Grace and peace be with you,” Quoted Patience.

“ From God our father and the Lord Jesus Christ,” Truth finished, smiling.

And with that, they were lost in the crowd. Mother fell into Father's arms, weeping uncontrollably.

“Let's go home.” He said to her.

“I'll meet you there in a little bit,” I called after them.

Father nodded.

I sat down on the grassy slope as the boats cast off. I didn't leave as they sailed further and further away. But just as they were about to sail beyond my view, I thought I saw someone waving.

Keep on glowing in the dark,

Elora

Pictures

Here's a Thanksgiving Stoy for you. Enjoy!


Pictures
By Elora


Snip! Snip! Snip! Chrissy cut ferociously away at the small pile of photographs in her hand until they were in at least four or five pieces. Then, she scattered the glossy clippings all over the floor of the room. Not her room, just a room. Her room was back in her house which was in Kansas.
The girl stared glumly at the Oregon rain coming down outside her window. Chrissy missed the rolling golden fields of home. What good were pictures if she couldn’t have the real thing?
Scooping the remnants of her memories into a pile, she stood and stretched out her legs. As soon as she left the room they said was hers, a smell wafted to her nose. It made her sick. This couldn’t be Thanksgiving Day. Not here, it wasn’t right! That was only for the small, light green house in Kansas. Stomping back up the stairs, Chrissy retreated to the room to lose herself in a book.
It worked! She almost forgot that she wasn’t in Kansas. Halfway through her favorite Thanksgiving tale, she heard her mom call.
“Chrissy, come down for the Thanksgiving picture.”
Chrissy cringed. Here? Now? Where will we take it? Who will take it?
The questions flashed through her mind. There was no use in arguing, though, so she sullenly marched down the stairs. The Campbell family gathered around the small fireplace of their new home.
Chrissy sighed and admitted her feelings, “I don’t really want to do the picture this year.”
“But Chrissy,” her dad replied, shocked, “you’ve always wanted to be a part of it. Besides, it wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without it.”
Indignation welled up within her, “Yeah!” She exclaimed, “Well it’s not Thanksgiving without the old fireplace either! Or without Aunt Riana and Uncle Luke! And especially when we’re not in Kansas!”
With that, she stormed upstairs and flopped onto her mattress. Sobs shook her body. Nothing was right. She started to reach for the past pictures, but then she remembered and looked down at the last thirteen Thanksgivings in pieces on the floor. She wished she hadn’t done it, but she had.
A few minutes later her mom walked in and sat on the bed next to her.
“It’s all so different, Mom!” Chrissy moaned, “how can we celebrate Thanksgiving like this?”
“Is it really that different, Chrissy?” Her mom asked gently, “We’re still taking our picture, and we’re still making all the same foods. Most importantly, we’re still together as a family to give thanks to God.”
“But Aunt Riana and Uncle Luke won’t be here,” Chrissy argued.
“Not physically, no, but they’re with us in spirit. God’s followers are never truly apart.”
Then she looked down, “Oh, Chrissy!” She gasped, “Why did you do it?”
“I’m sorry, Ma,” she cried, “I was just so mad and I wasn’t thinking straight! I really wish I hadn’t!”
“It’s okay,” her mother said calmly, “we can try to tape them back together. But for now, let’s go back downstairs and make some new memories!”
So, they went back down to the fireplace and gathered around it. A neighbor, Mr. Henlier came and took four pictures with their old, black camera. One each for Chrissy and her brother, Jake, one for their parents and one to mail to Aunt Riana and Uncle Luke back in Kansas.
At dinner that night, they laughed and talked about their goofy memories. Like when Uncle Luke had tried to carve the turkey and ended up cutting the table. Or when Dad had been spinning Jake around and accidentally launched him out the open door and into Aunt Riana.
The night turned out to be one of Chrissy’s favorites.
Two weeks later, when the pictures were ready, she and her mom went to the corner store and bought a small picture book. In it, Chrissy put the thirteen taped-together Thanksgivings and the new one they had shared in their new home.

Keep on glowing in the dark,
Elora

Tonight

Tonight:
-I helped my friend Mikayla with her homework.
-I finished writing a story called, "Back to Light".
-I went to Taekwondo and started learning my Black Belt form.....
That's right, my BLACK BELT FORM!!!!!
Indeed, I made it through 51/2 of testing on Saturday. Master Lee tied my black belt at about 5:30. I almost cried. It was an awesome day!

Keep on glowing in the dark,
Elora

Not that I'm counting down the hours or anything....

I'm still nervous, but I'm finding that the closer the test gets, the more excited I'm getting. It's an odd phenomenon indeed, but a good one. By the way, there's thirty-eight hours left:)!
Keep on glowing in the dark,
Elora

Here it Comes!!!!

Nov. 13th is this Saturday. If you didn't already know, my Black Belt Test is on Nov. 13. Here it comes!
Keep on glowing in the dark,
Elora