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

The Bee

Yes, it was two months ago tomorrow. Sorry. But this is how the Bible Bee went.
First, my age group went into the nursery of the church we were in and took our written test. It mostly had questions about the book of Colossians. That was fun and not to stressful.
After that was the oral round. We each had to wait until our number was called. Then we went down and recited verses that the judges gave us. I was so nervous while waiting that I started telling my mom really bad jokes in a Swedish accent.
Everything went fine, but I didn't expect to get into the final round. The top five scores from each group made it to that round.
Before that happened, however, there was a lunch break.
My mom and I got back to the church and the Primary final round started. It seemed painstakingly long to all of us Juniors who were waiting to find out who made it in our round.
At first they called three of the names I expected to hear, but then they called me!!
Lets sum up what happens next with that I got fourth place and there was a double tie for first, second and third.
That was a lovely day, but the fascinating story is not over yet.
The next week we had a party to celebrate the Bee and find out if anyone made it to the nationals. Now as much as I didn't expect to make it to the final round, I expected to make it to the nationals even less.
Hannah and I were late to the said party, and they were already calling names when we arrived.
We walked into the room and for some reason, everyone was clapping. You can probably guess what happened next.
Anyway, the nationals are on Nov 13 and so is my black belt test.
To conclude, I really enjoyed the Bible Bee despite anything I might have said to imply otherwise. I can't wait for next year and I encourage you to sign up too.
Keep on glowing in the dark,
Elora

Prayer Group

Yes, I'm back. I promise to post more on other things later. For now, here is an update on prayer group.
Prayer group is starting back up again on Sunday, October 3rd at 6:00. Instead of just the China prayer group, it is now the prayer group for the persecuted church. We will also be doing a lot of Bible study (you don't have any extra reading during the week). For the first six weeks, we will focus on Paul's prayer requests in his letters. If you are planning on coming, please bring a Bible and some sort of folder. Hope to see you there!
Keep on glowing in the dark,
Elora

500

On Wednesday night, I finished memorizing my verses for the Bible Bee!
It was about eleven at night, when I laid down on the bed and declared, "I memorized 500 verses this Summer!!" Then, with a little less glee, I got up and reminded myself, "now I have to review them all." I can't believe the Bible Bee is next Saturday! Aaaaaaaggghhhh!!!!!
Yep, welcome to my summer...
Keep on glowing in the dark,
Elora