How to Decorate a Notebook

Last time on Behind the Stone Door...
I showed you how to make a cool looking composition book with a magazine picture or scrapbook page and made mention of another post, including more ways to decorate a notebook. This is that post!!! (cue dramatic music.)

These are some other cool looking designs I've done on the front of composition books:

-Top left: I cut up an old music sheet from my church choir and pasted the pieces on top of a nice piece of scrapbook paper.
-Top right: I cut out interesting pictures and words from magazines and put them in a collage pattern on the front of the book.
-Bottom left: I doodled all over a plain piece of white paper and glued it to the front of a spiral notebook. I use this one to take notes at school!
-Bottom right: First, I laid a magazine full page picture on the cover. Then I put a blank piece of colored paper on the bottom half. Finally I added ribbon,pressed flowers and newspaper clippings and covered it with Mod Podge.
If you have any ideas for cool notebook covers to share, post a comment.I'd love to try it!
Keep on glowing in the dark,
Elora

As is True of All Good Things,(Except for Heaven), This Too Must Come to an End

Sadly, in fact the National Bible Bee is coming to a close. Last night, my mom and I went to a family hymn sing. It was refreshing. I learned a lot of hymns I hadn't known before. This morning, we went to a worship and prayer service with an admittedly intense pastor. After that, we got to watch our friend Olivia win the primary final round for a second year in a row.
At lunch, we attended a luncheon at which Phil Vischer spoke. He is the creator of Veggie Tales, (and most of the voices) and a new puppet series called "What's in the Bible". He spoke on making sure your relationship with God is more important than even what you are doing to serve Him.

Later, we watched the beginning of the senior final round. No one died, even though seniors are red-shirts, (sorry, I'm tired and making bad Star Trek jokes). We had to leave early to tour the Opryland Hotel. It is a HUGE hotel with a river running through it and tons of shops.

When we returned, it was time for the closing ceremony. We sat together with almost everyone from Oregon. Various awards were given and we watched a video about the inspiration for the Bible Bee, Shelby Kennedy. Finally, we sang a worship song from our opening ceremony. It was a powerful time.

All together we sang, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty! Worthy are You our Lord and God to receive glory and honor and power!"

Afterward we all went downstairs and had dessert together. I mostly had fruit, because nothing else was gluten- free. It was good to be able to hang out with and say goodbye to all my good friends from the Bible Bee. Even though I'll hopefully see them again soon, I got all emotional and almost cried. I've had a great time at Nationals, and I'm soooo glad I made it this year. Who knows what will happen next year. I can't thank you enough for your prayers and encouragement to me.

To leave you on a happy note, we saw this amazing watermelon at the dessert reception. I just had to take a picture of it. I don't know why it's so cool. Probably because it says "Bible Bee"!

Keep on glowing in the dark,

Elora

I Walked the Streets of Nashville...

The flag of Tennessee

The Ryman

A giant guitar (what "Honky Tonk" is, I have no idea)

I ran into Elvis, and he poked me in the eye! How rude!

Here are some photos from my mom and my jaunt through Nashville which I mentioned on my previous post.

Keep on glowing in the dark,

Elora

Day 3 of the Bee!

Since I last posted, a lot has happened. I went through my oral round, which was nerve-racking. I had to skip a few verses and I didn't get through all 25. After that, I was escorted to the Family Fun Room, where I had lunch and waited with my mom until all the seniors were done their oral rounds.

Then I ran to the dress rehearsal for our musical presentation in the opening ceremony.

Next, all of the contestants then gathered for the processional. We lined up in our divisions in height order, (yes, I was at the back of the line). Each of us went up on stage and got a medal, then had our pictures, (single and collective), taken many times. When the Primaries were done, I ran into the hallway to line up with the choir.

Our presentation went really well. It was a mix of orchestral music, an 85-person choir and scripture reading.

We saw a video from Joni Earekson-Tada, and Kirk Cameron shared his testimony and encouraged us. But everyone was really waiting for the semi-finalists to be announced. Someone named Mr. Bob Lepine announced them, but the guy who introduced him sounded like he said "Mr. Bible Bee".

Anyway, two primaries from Oregon, Isaac and Olivia, made it into the semi-finals. Also, one of our juniors, Luke made it in.

To ease any tension you may be feeling, I didn't make it to the final rounds. I wasn't really expecting to, so I wasn't too disappointed. I'm just a little sad that the Bible Bee is over for me this year. At least I get to relax the rest of the time we're here.

Today, (which is technically day 4, not day 3), we went and saw Olivia and Isaac compete in the semi-finals. Olivia made it in to the top five, (but we weren't worried about her), and Isaac got seventh. They both did really well.

Later my mom and I went to a mother-daughter tea party, then we went out and explored the city. We walked all the way to the Titans stadium and took some pictures for my dad and brother. I'll have to post some of the pictures on my next post.

I'm having a great time; thanks again for all your prayers!

Keep on glowing in the dark,

Elora

To Continue...

Yesterday, after I last blogged, I went to registration for the competition. We got a tour of the main contest area, got signed in, and picked up two new Bible Bee shirts, (soon I will have a Bible Bee shirt for every day of the week). We also got a gift bag and a secret envelope. It really isn't that secret, all it contained was a map, a schedule, name tags, tickets and other informative things. I just felt like calling it secret. Then we rushed to have dinner and get to the rehearsal for today's opening ceremony. I am singing in the 85-person choir and reading some scripture for the presentation about God's word. There is also a big orchestra. It should be fun!

I heard that they will be recording it, so if it gets posted online, I will put a link to it on the blog.
Today, I woke up at 6:45, had breakfast and studied some last minute verses. Then, I went into the written test round at about 9. I think I did pretty good, but who knows. I can't believe I'm actually at the National Bible Bee! This is it!!!

Now I'm waiting for my oral test round, where I try to say 25 passages in ten minutes. I'm a little nervous; this is the hardest part for me. Thanks for all your prayers!

Keep on glowing in the dark,

Elora

My Amazing Journey (Pt. 2)

So, to continue the story I started on the last post, we landed in Nashville. The first thing I noticed is that EVERYTHING is music here. We took a taxi to the hotel where the Bible Bee is being held. As soon as we got out of the taxi, some of our friends from Oregon ran up to us and said hi. I wasn't sure we'd be able to find anyone, so that was cool.

This morning, we had breakfast at a cafe near our hotel. My mom ordered grits, and I tried some. They were pretty good. Then I put blackberry jam in them and that made them even better, (for those of you who don't know, grits are a sort of corn porridge thing).

After that, we worked on a few stacks of verses.

Below is one of the music signs we saw. This one is in front of our hotel. There are also music notes and instruments in all the art and carpet design. The elevators even have Beethoven's 5th Symphony on them. I especially liked these signs because they are shaped like guitar picks.

Oh no! I stood next to the "No Standing" sign! That's like getting stuck behind a truck that says, "Construction vehicle, do not follow." It isn't even a good picture ;).

Keep on glowing in the dark,

Elora

After the Bible Bee...

Since the beginning of this amazing yet time consuming adventure called the Bible Bee, there have been some things I wanted to do that I put off such as...

- Practicing guitar

- Writing stories as frequently as I used to

- Reading a lot

- Trying to join the swim team

- Doing extra credit math homework (hmmm... somehow I haven't missed that so much)

- Going to our worship team's "Spark Nights"

- Sending out stories for publication

- Getting my learner's permit

- Editing my last book and working on a new one

- Ect, ect, ect....

So, these things have gone on a list I call the "After the Bible Bee" list. "After the Bible Bee" is also my favorite and most commonly used prepositional phrase, ( yes, I have a favorite prepositional phrase. You know you do too.)

But as the Bible Bee in Nashville draws nearer and nearer I realize what a friend of mine so poignantly stated: "Elora, after the Bible Bee, you'll MISS the Bible Bee!" (She said this using her very superior oratory skills). It is so true. I know myself; when it's over, I'll be sad and wonder what to do with myself. Then I'll get back to doing what I always do: memorizing verses and studying the Bible! I have a lot of AWANA verses to catch up on, (I put those off 'till after the Bible Bee too), and I'm thinking of starting a Bible study with some of the high schoolers and jr. highers from church.

But that's all after the Bible Bee. I'll have time to think about that later. For now... I'm leaving for Nashville in three days!

Let's let the Bible Bee begin before we think about it being over!

Keep on glowing in the dark,

Elora

P.s. It will be intense...

Re:Creation

Right now, I am listening to Steven Curtis Chapman's new album Re:Creation. It just came out today. He "recreated" some of his old hits and, of course wrote some new songs. It is really great and I highly suggest it! (Yes, I was counting down the days/hours/minutes to its release.)
Keep on glowing on the dark,
Elora

Weeks, Not days!

Our local Christian radio station is putting on a concert with a bunch of Christian artists on August 28th. They've been advertising it all summer, but now, I think they're a little too excited.
Just the other day I heard a commercial that said FishFest, (The concert), was only a few days away. In reality, it is still a few weeks away.
It freaked me out for a second, though, not because I am going to the concert, but because the Bible Bee is on that same day.
It can't be in a few days, I still have verses to finish!
Weeks, The Fish. Weeks, not days.
Keep on glowing in the dark,
Elora