Fields of Gold

:D

2011-11-23T14:17:00.001-08:00

i think there is a away to make this display, but it has been way toooo long since i have been on blogger, sooo i have no clue.

BUT WATCH. It's a funny thanksgiving video :))

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9L3bGKlxzGE

Before and After

2011-11-21T18:28:00.000-08:00

He heals the brokenhearted

and binds up their wounds.

- Psalm 147:3

My flesh and my heart may fail,

but God is the strength of my heart

and my portion forever.

-Psalm 73:26

These verses give me so much comfort.

Tonight, instead of studying for a test I have tomorrow, I laid in my room and cried. Getting some of my emotions out through tears does help a bit but it leaves me feeling empty and kind of pathetic. But ya know, that is okay. Even though I still do not believe it 100%, things are going to get better. I guess at this point the only way I can go is up.

I have to prove this to myself. This picture doesn't even come close to how I really looked when I stood up and looked in the mirror. I hardly recognized myself.

This is my Before. All I can do is pray and believe that there will be an After.

Do not be anxious about anything,

but in everything by prayer and supplication

with thanksgiving let your requests be made know to God.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

-Philippians 4:6-7

Dream Big

2011-11-12T14:28:00.000-08:00

(Ryan Shupe & The Rubberband)

When you cry be sure to dry your eyes
'Cause better days are sure to come
And when you smile be sure to smile wide
Don't let them know that they have won
And when you walk, walk with pride
Don't show the hurt inside
Because the pain will soon be gone

And when you dream, dream big
As big as the ocean blue
'Cause when you dream it might come true
When you dream, dream big

When you laugh be sure to laugh out loud
'Cause it will carry all your cares away
And when you see, see the beauty all around and in yourself
And it'll help you feel okay
And when you pray, pray for strength
To help you carry on
When the troubles come your way

And when you dream, dream big
As big as the ocean blue
'Cause when you dream it might come true
When you dream, dream big

When you laugh be sure to laugh out loud
'Cause it will carry all your cares away
And when you see, see the beauty all around and in yourself
And it'll help you feel okay
And when you pray, pray for strength
To help you carry on
When the troubles come your way

And when you dream, dream big
As big as the ocean blue
'Cause when you dream it might come true
When you dream, dream big

Break Up- What Doesn't Kill You

2011-11-07T09:51:00.000-08:00

My boyfriend and I recently broke up. My sister sent me this song and I really like it.

This is the chorus:

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone
What doesn't kill you makes a fighter
Footsteps even lighter
Doesn't mean I'm over cause you're gone

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stronger
Just me, myself and I
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone

2011-11-07T09:34:00.000-08:00

I am going to start blogging again. It makes me feel better to write out my thoughts.

A Battle

2010-06-06T17:15:00.000-07:00

A Battle by Traci

Light surrounded by life,

Waiting for that chance to shine.

Peeping through the holes of strife,

Needing to put things back in line.

Darkness welcomed by distant cries,

A danger marked by endless death.

But still it’s loved by some called wise

And doesn’t stop till light’s last breath.

Two forces exist to battle on,

One white, one black, both here.

The fight will last till one is gone,

The end will soon be near.

Code of the Woosters Ballad

2010-06-05T15:02:00.000-07:00

Code of the Woosters Ballad by Traci

A story told in 4, 3 verse
8 stanzas times 3 more
A tale of laughter mixed with strife,
No doubts, it will not bore.

A lady with a bright idea.
A man to do her will.
A dish she wants to claim her own
Now Bertie must fulfill.

He goes down town to scope and sneer
His hope, the price will fall.
The cow creamer is in his hands
His quest is a downfall.

A man named Bassett steps in play,
He holds the treasured cow.
As Bertie runs from law and stick
Both think, "what happens now?"

At home Aunt Dahlia stomps and storms
She has to form a plan.
So Bertie leaves her once again
For he's her handyman.

To Totleigh Towers Berties sent,
He has two missions now.
To fix his friends relationship
And steal the silver cow.

His first attempt is ended fast,
He's almost sent to jail.
Now Bassett wants to talk a trade
For fine dining and nice ail.

This trade is not acceptable,
The problems still at hand.
So Bertie stops and takes a breath
They will try it once more planned.

The one named Spode is sent away
To find a helmet pinched.
Aunt Dahlia steps forth to take,
The precious dish before she's lynched.

She runs back fast to Bertie's room,
Her treasure safe and warm.
She throws it up for Jeeves to catch,
So it's hidden before the storm.

In runs Gussie with a plan
The window's where he goes.
He grabs some sheets and jumps on down,
One less man to interpose.

He's out the window on the ground
Now Jeeves starts thinking fast
He puts the cow into a bag
Now Gussie is aghast.

"To London" yells the man in black,
It will be safe once there.
He turns around and smiles wide,
No more needs to utter prayer.

Aunt Dahlia's grand food is safe
She has her blessed cow.
The man named Bassett was shutdown
No longer can he prowl.

Gussie drops the suitcase off
It's now in Traver's hands.
A prize of glory overall
This dish can withstand all.

The tale is done, now farewell all
The hope is you enjoyed
Now please no more of this for now
This writer is employed.

2009-12-25T11:21:00.001-08:00

I stand alone before an empty pit

Imagining a time still yet to come

An act of wonder sewn up bit by bit

I stand alone and hear the spirits hum

And then soft steps like cadence of a drum

The Rest behind me all in rapture breath

The time has come for ballads to be sung

I’m standing there again but it’s a dream

My goal today be loud and proper speak

Again I stand alone what will they think

I freeze to let my words form lasting beats

My partner comes across we touch and link

A bond of lasting love a cast binds fast

The night is done the story ends at last

by Traci

Ballad by Traci

2009-10-24T12:55:00.000-07:00

What Kind of Man is This?

Based on the Story of Jesus Calming the Winds

By Traci Van Deventer

A boat at night all quiet and calm,

Four men do sit and steer,

They’re with the Man called Blessed One,

No angst, nor grief, but fear.

A fear that is unknown to them,

Until the moment’s done,

Like foxes on a hunting day,

Safe till time to run.

They left behind a hill of men,

Of whom had come to see,

The peace and joy of Jesus Christ,

But what is yet to be?

The wind started up from deep within,

The waves whipped to and fro,

A scary storm surrounded by sea,

The men yell, “Christ, oh no! “

One Man is not afraid of death,

One Man sleeps all alone,

He knows the outcome and the test,

Of trusting what’s not known.

This Man awakes at cries of fear,

Now faith must be restored,

He makes the sea bow to His will,

Proclaiming He is Lord.

I read a book...

2009-10-24T12:54:00.000-07:00

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han.

I liked it. :)

I am a published writer.. oh yes

2009-09-01T16:41:00.001-07:00

*clears throat*
I AM A PUBLISHED WRITER BEFORE THE AGE OF 18 BEFORE I EVEN HAVE MY AFTER 9 FOR GOODNESS SAKES! :) *so excited*

Okay, so I bet you wanna know what it is that is published??? Well, "I Can't Keep My Own Secrets: Six-Word Memoirs by Teens Famous and Obscure" came out today in bookstores and I have a memoir in it. :D

I might post what exactly I said, but I think you should go and get the book and read it and see for your self. Go HERE.

Oh and I got Catching Fire at the bookstore today! Well, one of my friends picked it up for me, but still.

hmm what a good day. :D

2009-08-26T16:50:00.000-07:00

Well, here I am blogging again. I'm not sure anyone reads this anymore because I haven't been posting really anything about books or acting, just random stuff. I recently just looked through all my archives and I loved seeing some of the posts I had forgotten about and it gave me this new blogging energy. I really love blogging, it's just very time consuming.

Sometimes, more like all the time, I wish I was reading a million books a month again, reviewing them all, chatting on forums, blogging, reading blogs, interviewing authors, finding more books to read, etc. That was SO much fun and probably one of the coolest experiences besides acting in my life. One day I will do it again. One day I'm going to move to Siberia for a year with some of my closest friends and I will sit with the polar bears (don't ask) and read for hours and video chat with authors. ;):D

So..hmmm I don't wanna get rid of my blog because I love it, so I guess I will just post random things and maybe some rare deep thoughts.

I just bought my sister's ipod from her and downloaded some of my fav songs:

My Life Would Suck Without You - Kelly Clarkson
You Found Me- The Fray
Should've Said No- Taylor Swift
What Hurts the Most -Cascada
Bless the Broken Road- Rascal Flatts
Life is a Highway - Rascal Flatts
Mad World - Adam Lambert
Ring of Fire - Adam Lambert
Fearless - Daechelle
My Heart will go on - Celine Dion
I Believe - Fantasia
God Bless the USA -Lee Greenwood

Eyes of the Heart

2009-07-18T07:12:00.000-07:00

Close your eyes
The physical can be so blind
In my eyes
The innocent can be so wise
It's not about black or white
This is wrong or right
Can you take a stranger
And treat him like your brother

Love don't start with the eyes
Starts with the heart
Look deep down inside
In all that you have a chance
To make a choice, to make a change
So make the choice to look with the eyes of your heart

Close your eyes
The light of love will lead the way
In the eyes of a child
We're all the same
If we're all God's children
The logic is so simple
The one you call stranger is really your brother

Love don't start with the eyes
Starts with the heart
Look deep down inside
In all that you have a chance
To make a choice, to make a change
So make the choice to look with the eyes of your heart

No I don't mean to preach
Some may say that it's unrealistic
Cause none of us is perfect
But the way that I say it
What do you just try to see with different eyes
Could you see that what is done to you is done to me?
We want humanity yeah

Oh, love don't start with the eyes
Starts with the heart
Look deep down inside
In all that you have a chance
To make a choice, to make a change
So make the choice to look with the eyes of...

Love don't start with the eyes
Starts with the heart
Look deep down inside
You have the chance
To make a choice, to make a change
So take the chance
To make a choice, to make a change
So make the choice to look with the eyes of your heart

Picture of the Week 23,24, and 25

2009-06-14T14:58:00.001-07:00

Life is busy and I love it! I have kind of lost track of some of my photos and at one point I didn't have my camera cord, but here are some pictures from the last 3 weeks. Enjoy! My friend and her mom in Williamsburg. My mom and I went with them for a mother and daughter weekend. It was a lot of fun!
Last week I was in Arizona visiting ERIN!! The picture above was of a note on a trail we walked on...

Other Photos of the Week

Just Me

Breakaway

Sweet Hearts by Sara Zarr

2009-06-03T19:42:00.001-07:00

Sweethearts by Sara Zarr

Change, one word that most people fear or just refuse to acknowledge. In Jennifer Harris’ old life things hadn’t been so good, but at least she had Cameron, her true friend. Even though Cameron’s father was abusive and Jennifer was having problems at school and social life, as long as they both were close, it made things tolerable. Problem was, one day Cameron disappeared, tearing Jennifer apart. Multiple years later he reappears, but by this time Jenna has a new name, new life, is popular at school, has friends, and “change” is her middle name. Will she have room in her life for him or will she refuse to help a friend because it requires her to look back into a past life which brings up painful truths and secrets.

Sweet Hearts was a very different book. From the beginning Sara started addressing drama in schools, abuse, bullying, big moves, parents, boyfriends, emotions, etc. All things which individually or united are dealt with by teens on a daily basis, especially today. I applaud books such as this one because it has a message of hope while staying in reality. One of my biggest pet peeves is books or movies at that matter that try to reach out to people or broadcast messages and completely overdue it to a point where the book will be put down or movie turned off. Please bear in mind this is a young adult book, so there was some mild language.

Photo of the Week 21 and 22

2009-06-03T10:47:00.000-07:00

Thank you Sookie for the photobucket tip!!!

My mom recently unpacked all of my Magic Tree House books ( I have ALL of them) and I was thrilled to put them back on my bookshelf. :D

We have some really cool second cousins that live about three hours away and so last week we made the trip up to visit them. We had a lot of fun swimming in their pool and hiking in the mountains.

Other Photos of the Week:
Just Me
Breakaway

Picture of the Week 21 and 22 ( not really)

2009-05-25T19:30:00.001-07:00

HELLOOOO.. :)
So, sadly, for some unexplained reason, blogger won't let me post pictures. *sadness*
I have been trying everyday, but it just won't work. When it eventually comes back I will post all my pictures, don't worry! :D

Story and End of School

2009-05-21T15:15:00.000-07:00

I am finally done with school and exams! Wahoo! I am so very happy because this means I can relax and enjoy life and also start reading more! I have missed it.. :)
I'm very excited about this summer and have a lot planned. Here are some of the things I hope to accomplish.

1. Review algebra 1 and algebra 2 ( oh joy..)
2. Party and hang with friends
3. Work at school and earn lots of money $$$
4. Go to Arizona and visit Erin (highlight of the summer)
5. Attend a 5 week (8 hour a day) summer acting camp. We are doing Charlotte's Web!
6. Memorize 5-10 minute selection for Oral Interpretation (for debate competitions once school starts again)
7. Memorize 5-10 minute selection for Dramatic Interpretation (for " " " " " ")
8. Drive around lots (I have my license now!)

Lastly, go HERE to read a story I wrote for literature class. My assignment was to write about some kind of myth, saying, tradition, way, or instinct. I chose to write about the saying, Break A Leg. Enjoy!

Picture of the week 19 and 20

2009-05-17T09:17:00.000-07:00

Last week my school put on the play, Pride and Prejudice. It was lot of fun and a really good experience. I played Charlotte Lucas, Elizabeth Bennett's best friend. This is my last weekend as a Sophomore!! I have exams on Wednesday and Thursday, summer break, and then Junior year! woot woot! I was in a crazy mood and decided to draw on my mirror this morning.. :)

Other Photos of the Week
Just Me
Breakaway

Picture of the Week 18

2009-05-03T19:01:00.001-07:00

Other Photos of the Week
Just Me
Breakaway

Picture of the Week 16 and 17

2009-04-26T09:56:00.000-07:00

Sorry, this one is late. Anyways, Amy and Laurie participated in the 8th grade tea at school. They were escorted down by a random guy and then had a lunch prepared by the 9th graders.

Hmm.. to explain this one. I guess you either get it or not. :) haha

Other photos of the week:
Just Me
Breakaway

Picture of the Week (15)

2009-04-12T18:52:00.000-07:00

Well, this week I was playing with my self timer and this picture came out. I wanted to show Erin my new shirt and also wanted to show people my wall of acting stuff. It has posters, programs, tickets, pictures, awards, cast lists, scripts, etc and I'm very proud of it! :D

Other photos of the week:
Just Me
Breakaway

Picture of the Week (14)

2009-04-05T14:46:00.000-07:00

This weekend, my Dad, Amy, and I went over to Charlotte (3 hours away) for a special basketball tournament. Amy plays on a AAU team outside of school that travels on weekends and competes. They didn't win, but played VERY hard. It was fun watching her play! :)

Other photos of the week
Just Me
Breakaway

Picture of the Week (13)

2009-03-29T17:48:00.000-07:00

He's BACKKK!!!! I found my lizard on a cool bush! :) I love these creatures!

Other photos of the week
Just Me
Breakaway

Bookshelf Meme

2009-03-25T13:18:00.000-07:00

Tell me about the book that has been on your shelf the longest...

I can't remember the exact book, but this one comes the closest. The Pinhoe Egg is very dear to me because it was the first book I received from HarperCollins and the first I reviewed for a company. I loved the story and thought it would make a great movie!

Tell me about a book that reminds you of something specific in your life (i.e. a person, a place, a time, etc.)...

I just found this book on my shelf and it reminds me of something specific in my life because I just recently got cast as Mrs. Arable in Charlotte's Web. It is for a 5 week summer camp. I love this story and Templeton the rat will always be one of my favorite characters. :)

Tell me about a book you acquired in some interesting way (gift, serendipity in a used book store, prize, etc.)...

A couple of years ago, while we were visiting my grandparents in CA, my grandfather gave me this book. He had a collection of Tom Clancy books. This is special to me now because he has passed away. I have not finished the book yet, I guess I don't want to quite yet. :)

Tell me about the most recent addition to your shelves...

Graceling. My newest addition. The cover is absolutely amazing and the sword with the eye just begs you to the read the book. :) haha

Tell me about a book that has been with you to the most places...

I'm kind cheating and putting a series of books as my answer but it fits the description the best. When I travel I normally bring about 5 books with me every time, they are pretty much always different. But when I was younger, the Magic Tree House Books were the books that I traveled with and that I read multiple times. Jack and Annie are amazing kids! :)

Tell me about a bonus book that doesn't fit any of the above questions...

Book of a Thousand Days. This book is my bonus book because it more than does not fit in any of the questions it does not fit in any category or any groups, etc. It IS the group. Ok, that maybe is going a little far, but this book rocks so much and it is by far one of my ultimate favorite books. *sighs* Just the thought of reading it again makes me happy!

The Rules:

1. Tag 3-5 people, so the fun keeps going!

2. Leave a comment at the original post at A Striped Armchair, so that Eva can collect everyone’s answers.

3. If you leave a comment and link back to Eva as the meme’s creator, she will enter you in a book giveaway contest! She has a whole shelf devoted to giveaway books that you’ll be able to choose from, or a bookmooch point if you prefer.

4. Remember that this is all about enjoying books as physical objects, so feel free to describe the exact book you’re talking about, down to that warping from being dropped in the bath water...

5. Make the meme more fun with visuals! Covers of the specific edition you’re talking about, photos of your bookshelves, etc.

I was tagged by Christy at Hyperbole

I'm tagging.....

Emily
DeAnna

Picture of the Week (12)

2009-03-21T14:00:00.000-07:00

The other day I was looking outside my window and I noticed a lizard. It was really pretty and so I climbed out onto my roof for a better look and got this shot. :)

Other Photos of the Week
Just Me
Breakaway

Picture of the Week (11)

2009-03-16T10:36:00.000-07:00

Other Photos of the Week
Just Me
Breakaway

What is beauty...

2009-03-12T21:11:00.001-07:00

Here is my video for Justina Headley's True Beauty Challenge:

Picture of the Week (10)

2009-03-09T10:03:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday, I decided to go and compete at a Debate Competition a couple hours away with some people from my school. I competed in oral interpretation, which is basically presenting a passage of prose or poetry. You are judged on your poise, voice, way you present, etc. I did pretty well considering my lack or preparation and am excited for the fall (when it all starts up again). It was so fun! The picture above was my passage and it was a section from Anne of Green Gables.

Other Photos of the Week
Just Me
Breakaway

Picture of the Week (9)

2009-02-28T18:37:00.001-08:00

Our high school girls varsity basketball team got into the state finals this weekend. Amy who normally plays junior varsity was invited to go along and helped them get to the final championship game. Unfortunately they lost, but it was a good game, and Amy played more than half of it which is insane considering she hardly played with the varsity team during the regular season. This picture is of her recieving her medal for second place (in the state!!) along with her teammates! GO KNIGHTS!
Okay, this picture takes some explaining. My friends (who are totally awesome) arranged a surprise 17th birthday party for me and DeAnna, our birthdays are six days apart... for my present they designed and ordered a pair of ORANGE AND BLUE CONVERSES WITH MY INITIALS ON THE HEEL!!! *falls over with excitement* This completed my birthday celebrations and I will probably sleep with them under my pillow tonight, haha. Just because I can :P

Other photo of the weeks:
Just Me
Breakaway

Thoughts on Night by Elie Wiesel

2009-02-23T14:02:00.000-08:00

In history class we read the book Night by Wiesel. It is his personal account of his experiences in World War 2.
Review Coming Soon. The following is a short essay I wrote as an assignment. The prompt was to write your reactions, feelings, and thoughts after reading this book.

Night by Elie Wiesel

All alone, darkness, death, unfairness; these are words we as human beings in the twenty-first century shrink away from and prefer not to experience or use. These words are triggers for unpleasant feelings and locked up memories. Wiesel, in his book Night writes about his experiences as a prisoner in World War 2. His thoughts blast open these words and creates new meaning to them. He redefines what it is to be afraid and how it is to feel alone. When I read this book, I was inspired because of the strength it took to survive this kind of ordeal is incredible, but the pure courage and faithfulness that was abundant in the author is indescribable.

Night is a very intense and powerful read. The characters are as real as can be possible and the events are exact truths. This stuff is not made up and it is not fake or pretend, like some think or to a certain extent want to think. The question is, what makes this particular book stand out with descriptions pertaining to being powerful, life changing, intense? The reason is, Wiesel writes his story to us, the reader. At one point, Wiesel begins to describe how he feels, “Through the blue-tinged skylights I could see the darkness gradually fading. I had ceased to feel fear. And then I was overcome by an inhuman weariness”. (.p. 33) He had “ceased to feel fear”. He is saying bluntly and matter-of-factly what happened and how he is feeling. He's not adding fluff, additional characters, or other plots to make it more interesting, because it is his story. The story, the pure raw truth. The truth is powerful and that is what makes this book powerful.

One of my hobbies is reviewing books for publishing companies. I read a lot of books based for teens and young adults. One of the pros to this is the knowledge received is irreplaceable and completely filling and satisfying. One of the cons is that it is common to read a teen book written at an average teen level, which is pretty pathetic nowadays. With Night, the writing is mature and it is written to those who will understand and get the full rewards, which are first account knowledge of the conditions and actions during World War 2. While running between camps, Wiesel states, “We were masters of nature, masters of the world…Stronger than cold or hunger, stronger than the hosts and desire to die, condemned and wandering, mere numbers, we were the only men on earth”. (.p.83) This type of writing is just incredible and when I read this and think about what he means when he says “desire to die” or “masters of the world” it helps me begin the process of understanding how he felt when all this was happening to him. The way this quote is presented also makes a person rise above what they are capable of and think, instead of degrading themselves as readers.

To conclude, this book made me feel thankful for the way my life is right now and opened my eyes to some situations and circumstances that I was unaware of happening around World War 2. The writing was powerful and told the truth which is one of the main reasons this book will stick with me hopefully for the rest of my life. Those were dark and horrible times and one can only hope and pray that times like those will never happen again.

Picture of the Week (8)

2009-02-22T16:14:00.000-08:00

Last Friday was my 17th birthday and Dad gave me some beautiful flowers. They are so pretty! :D

Other Photo's of the Week
Just Me
Breakaway

Scavenger Hunt with a Shakespeare Twist

2009-02-17T04:17:00.000-08:00

Hello All,

You wanna play a game and possibly win an ARC of Lisa Mantchev's Eyes like Stars? Good, then listen up! :) Tomorrow go to Lisa's website here and get instructions on how to play this "Collect the Shakespearean Quotes" Multi-blog Scavenger Hunt‏. I am apart of this hunt and so if you participate you will find yourself back here tomorrow searching... :) Good Luck!

~Edit
The Rules:
1) Contest limited to those in the USA. Apologies to our friends abroad, but these ARCs are being mailed out by the generous souls on the blogroll, and there will be other contests which will be eligible to readers overseas.
2) All entrants must be the age of 13 or older. Entrants 12 and under (if any) can be entered by their parents.
3) No family members of anyone connected with the Scavenger Hunt, please.

How To Play:
1) Players should start at Lisa's Blog (lisamantchev.livejournal.com) to get the Official Blogroll and List of Clues
2) Players then need to visit the blogs, collect the quotes, AND leave a comment (like a trail of bread crumbs... we want to know you actually did the leg work!)
3) E-mail Lisa with your list of quotes: lisa@lisamantchev.com
4) Prizes will awarded thusly: to those who collect the most quotes. Should more people remit the complete quote list than we have ARCs to give away, Lisa shall award the prizes by lottery/random drawing. She shall also retain the right to add extra ARCs to the prize pool at her discretion.

Picture of the Week (7)

2009-02-14T13:15:00.001-08:00

This last week was spirit week at our school. This means, every day has a theme and we get to dress up and compete in fun competitions at lunch time. At the end of the week, winners from the games at lunch and participation in dressing up will be added up and a grade wins. This year, the juniors won.
Anyways, some of the days included, pajama day, spirit day, black out day, and siege weapon day. The above picture is of the siege weapon that some of the guys in my class made for the 1oth grade entry. It was truly amazing. They spent two weeks building it and they did it bascially by themselves. They didn't win (long long story, but we should have won, cause we were more consistent, etc. haha :))

Other photo of the weeks:
Just Me
Breakaway

Picture of the Week (6)

2009-02-07T16:45:00.000-08:00

Today at dinner, my dad was telling us a story and there was a bowl of cheerios sitting next to me. Next thing I knew, I had a one eyed smiley face..... +)

Other Photos of the Week
Just Me
Breakaway

Picture of the Week (5)

2009-02-02T04:00:00.000-08:00

One of my sisters decided to randomly spill all my change out onto my bedroom floor yesterday. *coughamycough* :D
Anyways, after I got over the initial shock I realized it had great photo possibilities!!

Other Photo of the Weeks:
Just Me
Breakaway

Essay for Bible Class

2009-01-25T19:54:00.001-08:00

Traci

Systematic Theology

Who Lives and Who Dies - Is this God or Man’s Decision?

God has an ultimate plan for every single one of us. But does that mean we have no say in our lives? Do we have to throw up our hands and let everything happen as it happens? What about when it comes to life, for instance, a baby? When a woman discovers there is possibility of becoming pregnant she can react in multiple ways. She could be overjoyed and thrilled at the possibility of bringing a baby into this world. She could hate the idea and immediately research abortion methods. Or, another option would be to look into birth control. The question is, should she be able to have all these options, deciding whether a baby should survive or not?

When it comes to birth control you can apply it in ways ranging from taking pills that contain hormones to prevent the egg and sperm from reaching each other to men and women personally protecting themselves with physical barrier methods. Birth control can be used on a regular basis or a last minute emergency option. One of the most controversial methods of birth control is the morning after pill. Supposedly the only difference between this and the other regular pills is the amount of hormones (morning after pills have large amounts of hormones) and when it is taken (the morning after). All of these prevent the egg from becoming fertilized. There is no life to kill and because there is no life to kill, there is no harm or inhumanness involved. In the case of abortion, it is murder and it kills the fertilized egg and therefore demolishes the life. In the Bible, God makes it clear how He loves children and is extremely protective over them. Whatever control we decide to have over life better be right because we will be answering to the ultimate Father one day.

So then, birth control is not an abortion and does not kill, but is it still right? God does have a plan, but we actually have a pretty big say in our lives, because He has given us the ability to choose between right and wrong. The decisions we make are judged by God through our heart. Today, a lot of teens are careless with their sexual behavior and find themselves in heaps of trouble with “parents” being a looming job title. They figure that birth control will solve this and they can continue on with their sin with no consequences. This is bad. Abusing the ability to give birth to children is in many ways wrong and will be judged. But, because the Lord is an understanding God, I believe in certain cases birth control is morally permissible. It is not possible to come up with a list of situations you need to be in to righteously use birth control because it is up to you and you’re conscience. Keeping in mind that God wants what is best for us, for health reasons and for financial reasons this is not a bad way to go. If your heart is in the right place and you are content with where you are in life, birth control might not be a bad idea, but when it is abused to cover up sins and to patch up problems, it will only make the situation worse.

To conclude, we are all under the rule and dominion of God. He knows what is going to happen hundreds of years from now and he knows who is going to get married and have kids and who is going to have abortions, and who is going to be in jail. He has known all this from the very beginning and will continue knowing it forever and ever. We cannot trick God. As Christians, we must remember that God forms our inward parts (body, mind, and soul) at conception (Psalm 139:13-14). Birth control is a way we can stabilize our lives and feel more comfortable, either in a good or bad way (using it as a stabilizer for a sinful life). God should be our ultimate stabilizer, but He knows we are only human and we need more than just Him. Unfortunately we thrive on new and improved ways to manage our lives. This is not a bad thing, as long as we keep our goals and standards straight. Christians can use birth control as long as they believe what they are doing is right and just and if they can honestly stand before God with their decision.

Picture of the Week (4)

2009-01-24T13:36:00.001-08:00

Last week, North Carolina was hit with snow. 5 inches. The whole state literally shut down. Dead Serious. :) This makes me laugh so hard because Idaho got hit a lot harder than that and I'm guessing their governor did not declare a state of emergency :P We had 2 1/2 snow days and it was so fun! Amy took this picture below from my bed room window and I thought I would share it with you all! :0

And this is my pic of the week. I was wondering what my mom was cooking and I lifted up the silver lid and saw the water boiling. It seemed really neat to me, so I snapped a picture :)

Other Photo of the Week Posts:
Just Me
Breakaway

Fly Girl by Sherri L. Smith

2009-01-20T12:07:00.000-08:00

Fly Girl by Sherri L. Smith

While the men and boys were out fighting in the war, the woman and girls stayed home and cooked or cleaned. Some even collected material objects to send off to factories to make more weapons and ammunition. This situation worked for most people but not for Ida Mae Jones. Ever since her dad had taken her up in his old Curtiss JN-4, she wanted to fly. At that moment she fell in love with the sky. One small problem was that she was a girl and girl pilots were looked down on and scorned. Slowly though, that problem was being resolved by independent woman taking a stand. Unfortunately for Ida that was nothing, the problem for her was that she was colored. But then, that shouldn’t even be a problem. Faced with the biggest decision of her life, Ida doesn’t know what to do. Stay at home, embracing her family and the way she is or pursue flying, covering up who she really is, denying her existence as a black woman.

I love historical fiction books and Fly Girl definitely didn’t disappoint me. Ida was so real to me and I found myself completely hooked on her life story and how she managed to fly as one of the first colored woman. She was willing to sacrifice everything she had and knew to fly and to make a difference. Not a lot of people are willing to do that anymore.

Photo of the Week (3)

2009-01-19T14:45:00.000-08:00

All of the leaves on the trees are gone and all that is left are empty branches. I prefer it this way though. They appear so peaceful and calm and I love looking at them. These particular trees are in my backyard. :D

Sorry this is a bit late... :)

Other Photos of the Week:
Just Me
Breakaway

Escape by Carolyn Jessop

2009-01-13T14:28:00.000-08:00

Escape by Carolyn Jessop

Carolyn was born into a family that had been practicing polygamy for many generations. She grew up with abuse and insecurity all around her. She watched as her sister ran away from home, scared about being forced into a marriage with a man that was 20 years her senior. She also watched as that same sister was pulled back by the leaders of their community with emotional and religious prompts. If she didn’t obey their will she would go and rot in hell. It was Carolyn’s turn now and she was forced to marry a man at least twice her age who already had 3 wives and around 20 children. That night as he lay on top of her she felt violated and wondered if this really was just a rape. At that moment, a little bit of doubt crossed her mind, and that started her thinking about what else was out there in the real world. Was she supposed to live like this? Her next 15 years were spent slowly planning her escape.

If someone asked me to define polygamy, I would have said, when a man has multiple wives. That is true, and it was bad in my eyes, but after reading Carolyn’s story of abuse, starvation, death, animal cruelty, dying children, and burned books I now realize it wasn’t bad, it was horrendous. Carolyn worked harder than is ever possible to ensure her children’s happiness in a free world, but it almost killed her. She is a hero to her kids and a role model to all abused woman and children in polygamist or abusive situations of any kind.

I greatly encourage you to watch the video below of an interview with Carolyn. It is eight minutes, but it really shows what this lady has been through and will encourage you to read her book.

This above video was an excerpt from a 40 minute video here. Go to it! You can select sections to watch, hear her answer questions, and touch on certain topics.

Picture of the Week (2)

2009-01-10T15:22:00.000-08:00

One of the things I was most excited about unpacking (yes, i still have boxes in my closet to unpack) was this. A signed autographed picture of one of my all time favorite Boise State Bronco players, T.J. Acree. In the picture he is playing for a Pro Canadian Team. My dad was in contact with his mother for some reason and through her was able to surprise me with this. :D

Other Photos of the Week:
Just Me
Breakaway

Picture of the Week

2009-01-04T09:52:00.000-08:00

My sister Amy gave me an amazing cool, red camera for Christmas this year. It's so pretty and I love it so very much! Because of this I have been taking lots of pictures lately. :) Along with Mrs. M and Brady, I will be posting my favorite photo of the week here for your enjoyment.

This week, it is a pumpkin that has my best friend's name on it. I was able to spend the last week with her on a mini Christmas vacation! It was so fun and a GREAT start to the New Year. :D

Merry Christmas

2008-12-25T06:45:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I hope you have a great day spending time with your family and friends, eating, opening presents, giving presents, eating more, and watching football (:D)
LOVE TO YOU ALL!!

This is my favorite song this Christmas. Mary did you Know by Rascal Flatts

annddd this song was shown to me by my Bible teacher. It's so bad it's funny. :)

I believe..

2008-12-24T08:34:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago, my Literature teacher assigned us a creative writing essay. "What do you Believe?" He said that we could write about anything and it could be as short or as long as we liked. I thought that I would share mine with you all. :D

Fighting For What Is Important
by Traci

Every day, many medical questions are answered, but even more remain unanswered. I believe in fighting for life because I don’t need a “yes” or “no” or a personal opinion from any expert or doctor to tell me that from the moment of conception babies are alive and thriving.

Unborn babies are the purest and the most beautiful. They are aware of their surroundings and know more than we think they do. God created them for goodness sake; they are going to be unpredictable and amazing. The possibility that we will know how aware a baby is in the womb, is doubtful, but their reflexes are working from the very beginning. When a baby is being sucked down a tube on request from the parent, they shrink away from the instrument of pain. If only the mother could see how much they both need each other.

The day after I was born, I was adopted into a wonderful family. I have no regrets, but I used to wonder why my birth mother didn’t try harder. If she had we could still be together. I couldn’t have been more wrong. She had fought for me. She chose to give birth and that decision was extremely tough. Friends pressured her to have an abortion. They wanted her to walk up the stairs of the clinic, kill me, and walk back down, never looking back. She stood strong though and didn’t break. Fighting for my life was worth going against her friends, and because of that I’m still here. Because of the mothers who are fighting, some children are able to survive and have an opportunity at life. But shouldn’t we all be fighting for the helpless unborn and their right to exist?

Fighting for what you believe in, or more specifically, fighting for life is noble and courageous. What could be more important than life? By fighting now, our children will be able to experience the joys and hardships of life and hopefully their children will continue that battle through their generations.

Merry Christmas Eve Everyone!!!

Interview with Mary Pope Osborne

2008-12-17T03:32:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my segment of Mary Pope Osborne's Blog Tour. I was so honored to be able to interview her and believe she is a truly amazing woman. Enjoy! See my post below for more info...

One of the most commonly asked questions to authors is something like, "What would be your word of advice to aspiring writers?" Most answers are to write, write, and write. If you don't agree with this, what is your advice? If you do, what was it that helped you continue writing on and on?

I’m of the ‘write-write-write school” too; but with a twist: Rewrite, rewrite, rewrite”; and every time, try to make it better. I’m amazed at how many kids think that once they’ve written something, it’s done. I shock them when I tell them that I rewrite a Magic Tree House chapter 20 times or more. Most of my work is rewriting, in fact. I also advise aspiring writers to take a break when they get really stuck. I take lots of breaks – to play with the dogs, make a cup of tea, talk to Will. When I come back to the work, very often my subconscious has solved the problem…And finally, I advise writers to find at least one person whom they can trust to share their work with…or even a small group of people. We all need feedback. I wouldn’t have a career as a writer without help from my husband Will. For thirty years he’s been my first reader and listener.

What were some of your favorite books as a kid?

I loved books of fairy tales and Bible stories and the Little House on the Prairie books, and Nancy Drew, and The Little Princess and The Secret Garden. I remember my two favorite picture books were called The Three Ugly Sisters and Big Farmer Big, both of which have been out of print for many years. Imagine my joy last year when I opened my Christmas present from my husband Will and found a copy of Big Farmer Big. Knowing how much I’d loved it, he’d been searching for it for years and had finally found a copy on Ebay. Just looking at the pictures made me feel 4 years old again. It’s now displayed prominently in my study.

I love those books as well! Funny thing, I just finished being in the play of The Secret Garden. :) I see that you have experience in theater. How has the stage affected your life?

The stage was the first outlet I found for my creativity. In my teens, I spent nearly every free hour outside high school acting or working in a community theater in our town in North Carolina. I studied dramatic arts at the University of North Carolina, and then years later, married an actor – my husband, Will. Now my writing life and my theater past have really come together by being involved with a show written by Will and composer Randy Courts -- Magic Tree House: the Musical. It’s traveling the country now, on a national tour.

Have you always wanted Jack and Annie's story on stage? If not, how did everything work into place for Magic Tree House: The Musical to happen?

Over the years, I’ve turned down offers to have Magic Tree House turned into movies or television shows or video games, because I want kids to read, and I want the books and characters to stay in children’s imaginations. Theater, though, is different from the electronic and digital world. A show is not frozen in time. It’s never performed exactly the same way twice. It requires a live audience to fully realize itself. The actors and audience are collaborators in the same way that readers and authors are collaborators.

I’ve always felt that way, so one day when Will and a wonderful man who’s a composer were working together on a show, I passed through the room and said, ‘You guys should think of writing a musical based on Magic Tree House.” They looked at each other…and the next thing I knew, I was being invited into their work space to hear a song. It was so beautiful, I cried. More great songs followed. Basing their show on book # 29, Christmas in Camelot; Will and Randy expanded and deepened the original text, making it appeal to adults as well as kids. They created a huge Broadway-style show with two-story high dragon puppets, over twenty human-size puppets, Knights of the Round Table, fairy dancers, and of course, Jack and Annie. Their musical is touring the country now, and Will and I are traveling to many places to see it. For anyone who’s interested in learning more about the musical, there’s a tour schedule and lots of fun information at http://www.mthmusical.com/.

Whenever I bought the newest Magic Tree House book, the first thing I would do (and still do), would be to flip to the back and see what book was coming next. I was always amazed you were able to keep finding topics to write about. What was your inspiration for finding all the different places Jack and Annie went to?

I was constantly thinking of different topics that interest me, and when I’m out on the road, I ask kid audiences to vote on these topics. I often move to the forefront the ideas that kids want most. But if I want to write about a subject that might not interest kids at first glance, such as an adventure with William Shakespeare or with Leonardo Da Vinci, I try to think of an appealing title -- Stagefright on a Summer Night (my Shakespeare story) or Monday with a Mad Genius (my Leonardo story.) When I asked kids to vote on these titles instead of the subjects, they were really enthusiastic. Once kids read the books and got to know Shakespeare and Leonardo Da Vinci, I think they found them really exciting, too.

How far do you plan on taking Jack and Annie's adventures?

As long as I have a clear mind, hands that can type, and readers who want to read the books, I’ll write them. It’s so much fun, I can’t seem to stop.

You obviously have a great love for Greek mythology, medieval stories, etc. Would you say that stories should be a significant influence on our culture today? Why?

The old stories are with us everyday of our lives. References are constantly made to Bible stories. Greek and Norse myths flourish everywhere – from the names of cars and coffee shops to the names of constellations and days of the week. New stories are everywhere, too, but whether they realize it or not, modern storytellers are always drawing on the same elements present in the oldest stories. We all tell the hero’s tale over and over – whether it’s Odysseus, Frodo, Harry Potter or an American Girl, there are always protagonists, calls to adventure, enemies, obstacles, and good or bad resolutions.

What is your definition of a powerful book?

Any book that makes me feel excited to be alive.

If you could have the whole world's attention for 5 minutes, what would you say?

Wow, that’s one of the best questions I’ve ever been asked. I’ll give a simple answer: I would implore adults to tell their children to step away from the computer, turn off the TV, and either go play in the back yard, or find a cozy nook and read a book. And if your children don’t read well or simply don’t like to read, then read with them. Let them read a page, then you read a page. Take them to a library. Help them find books they love. Good books will help them discover other worlds and love life in “all its manifestations.” In the midst of pain, loss, economic deprivation, sometimes only books can transport us to other worlds. Most importantly, reading books (like playing in the back yard) will help develop a child’s imagination. A rich imagination will help him or her think creatively about how to solve problems – their own, as well as the world’s.

Thank you so much Mary Pope Osborne for making one of my dreams come true (see here)!

Also, check out the rest of this awesome blog tour below:

Thursday 12/18: The Page Flipper, http://thepageflipper.blogspot.com/
Friday 12/19: The Well- Read Child, http://wellreadchild.blogspot.com/

Mary Pope Osborne Blog Tour

2008-12-14T08:55:00.000-08:00

Mary Pope Osborne, author of the bestselling Magic Tree House series, is heading out on a blog tour. She is most known for her Magic Tree House books, which are the stories of a brother/sister team, Jack and Annie who travel all across the world, through time, to explore, solve mysteries, and discover new things. The books are favorites of early readers, and are perfect for beginning chapter books. This winter, the Magic Tree House musical will begin its tour through the US. For more information on that, visit http://www.mthmusical.com/.

Below is a list of the blogs that will be featuring interviews with Mary during the following week. Mine airs the 17th! :D Yes, I got to interview her. My dream come true. Wow!
So please check out all of these amazing links and stay tuned for Wednesday!

Monday 12/15: Big A little a, http://kidslitinformation.blogspot.com/

Tuesday 12/16: The Reading Zone, http://thereadingzone.wordpress.com/

Wednesday 12/17: Fields of Gold, http://somethingkind.blogspot.com/

Thursday 12/18: The Page Flipper, http://thepageflipper.blogspot.com/

Friday 12/19: The Well- Read Child, http://wellreadchild.blogspot.com/

Boise State Broncos 2008

2008-12-06T15:07:00.000-08:00

Talk about another amazing football season. They won all twelve of their games and proudly wear the title of UNDEFEATED! :D Sadly, my favorite player (Ian Johnson, number 41) is graduating, so this was his last season. SNIFF

GO BRONCOS!!

Coming up on my blog:
Review of the amazing book Necessary Heartbreak by M.J. Sullivan.
Update on my plays Dragonsong and Secret Garden (closing night tonight!)
Unbelievable news concerning Mary Pope Osbourne

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T07:34:00.001-08:00

The past couple years have been pretty rough on me and my family with all the changes in our life, but through it all God has been there. We never thought that on this day, we would be celebrating Thanksgiving with old friends, in our brand new house, for the first time. I am thankful to God for his ultimate plan for every single one of use and his continuing surprises in my life.

I wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Heroes of Faith

by Edgar De Witt Jones

By faith the voyaging Mayflower embarked
from Old England and found harbor off the
bleak New England shores.

By faith the Pilgrim Fathers set up a government
on a new continent dedicated to God and
inspired by a desire to do his will on earth as it is
done in heaven.

By faith Thomas Jefferson was stirred to strike a
blow for political independence and wrote the
thrilling document that declared that all men are
created equal and endowed with certain
inalienable rights.

By faith he said, "Love your neighbor as
yourself and your country more than yourself."

By faith George Washington left his spacious
mansion at Mount Vernon and espoused the
cause of the tax-burdened colonists.

By faith he forsook ease and comfort, choosing
rather to suffer hardship with his men at Valley
Forge than to enjoy the favor of a king.

By faith he became the President of the newly
born republic and endured as seeing Him who is
invisible.

By faith Alexander Hamilton established the
financial credit of the nation. In the eloquent
words of Daniel Webster: "He touched the
corpse of public credit and it sprang into life.
He smote the rock of national resources and
abundant streams of revenue flowed."

By faith James Madison gave richly of his
scholarly mind to form the Federal Constitution.

By faith Andrew Jackson fought the battle of the
impoverished and underprivileged many against
the privileged few.

By faith Abraham Lincoln bore the awful burden
of four purgatorial years seeking to preserve the
Federal Union.

By faith he carried a dreadful war to its
conclusion without hate in his heart, saying, "I
have not only suffered for the South, I have
suffered with the South."

By faith Woodrow Wilson in the dreadful
heartbreak of a world war dreamed a dream of a
war less world in which the nations should be
leagued together to keep the peace.

By faith he glimpsed that promised land which,
like Moses, he might not enter. And what shall I more say?

For time would fail me if I should tell of that unnumbered host,
the unnamed and obscure citizens who bore
unimagined burdens, sacrificed in silence and
endured nobly, that a government of the people,
for the people, and by the people might not
perish from the earth.

My Hero: Mary Pope Osborne

2008-11-01T16:12:00.000-07:00

As long as I can remember, I have always enjoyed reading. There was a moment though, when the enjoyment became a love. This was after I was introduced to the Magic Tree House series. I was hooked. I proceeded to buy every one of Jack and Annie's adventures and was at the bookstore the second it opened whenever a new book came out. I wrote my own adventures for the brother and sister team, and I decided that when I grew up my home school curriculum would be based around every single one of those books. Years later, I still love their adventures and am still buying and reading them. The Magic Tree House series inspired me to expand my reading to all types of amazing stories and characters.

I will always remember those stories though, and how I wanted to be with Jack and Annie so bad. Mary Pope Osborne is my hero because she introduced me into a world of amazement and possibility through her books. I don't know of any author who has developed their stories as much as she and her husband have. They are creating research guides for all the books they've written and there are countless learning programs out there, even a broadway musical is going on tour now. Her dedication is my inspiration.

One of my goals in life is to interview her or even just meet her. I've started e-mailing some people to see if it's possible, but things haven't really worked out. I'm just going to keep trying though!

I love you Mary Pope Osborne!

Poem and Elections!

2008-10-27T16:58:00.000-07:00

With the elections coming up I thought that I would post my opinion here and include a poem I wrote about abortion. First though, I just want to say that please read this bearing in mind I don't mean to offend anyone by this post and firmly believe everyone is entitled to their own opinion and reasons. Ultimately we are all fighting for the same thing...

I am a republican and so naturally go for John McCain, but this year neither of these presidential candidates have impressed me. The reason McCain is ahead in my books though, is because of his fights against abortion.

ABORTION. This subject is very personal to me. I was adopted the day after I was born. I recently asked my mom if she knew my biological mom's opinion on abortion. I learned that she wasn't too keen on it, but was being pressured a lot and if not for her pastor, who came and reeled her in, anything could have happened.

Tick Tock
by Traci

Hurry, the more time it takes
the more guilt I will feel.

Hurry, I don't want it any older!

Hurry, I can't bear to see it,
I would never be able to get through this.

Hurry, I feel like a murderer.

You are one and the same...

Slowdown, it doesn't matter if I'm one day old
or one week in the womb,
you will still be killing me.

Slowdown, I want to live.

Slowdown, if you could just see
how much we need each other.

Mother, you are killing me.
You and only you are my murderer.

Cybils Nominations

2008-10-20T14:35:00.000-07:00

Go, go, go, HERE and see all the books that have been nominated for Cybils this year.
Below are some of the books I was thrilled to see on the lists:

Fantasy and Science Fiction (Middle Grade):
Fablehaven: Grip of the Shadow Plague by Brandon Mull
Out of the Wild by Sarah Beth Durst
Sisters of the Sword by Maya Snow ( see review here)
Skulduggery Pleasant: Playing with Fire by Derek Landy ( i love this book so much! see review here.)
Well Witched by Frances Hardinge ( I kind of thought this was nominated last year, but maybe I'm mistaken... see review here)

Fantasy and Science Fiction (Young Adult):
Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson
City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

Graphic Novels (Elementary/Middle Grade):
Babymouse #9: Monster Mash ( I actually haven't read this yet, but Babymouse rules!)

Graphic Novels (Young Adult):
Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon and Dean Hale, Illustrated by Nathan Hale
( This book is ALL THE WAY AMAZING)

Middle Grade Novels:
Bringing the Boy Home by N. A. Nelson ( see review here and author interview here)
Eve of the Emperor Penguin by Mary Pope Osborne ( watch for a post later on how this author is my hero..)
The Life and Crimes of Bernetta Wallflower by Lisa Graff

Young Adult Novels:
The Patron Saint of Butterflies by Cecilia Galante ( amazing book. see review here)
Redheaded Princess by Ann Rinaldi

Tablework for Dragonsong

2008-10-14T07:19:00.000-07:00

I recently auditioned for the play DRAGONSONG based off the book by Anne McCaffrey. I was given the role of a dragon puppeteer. Basically I am responsibility ( with 3 other kids) for making a massive (40 foot) dragon head come alive on stage. More on that in a later post.

Dragonsong is basically a story set in the land of Pern about a young girl who loves to sing and play music and a boy who wants to be a dragonrider. Unfortunately their town's customs forbid these things and they must find a way to fulfill their wishes and dreams even it involves taking drastic measures. Just a wonderful, cute, little coming of age story.
Anyways, last night we had rehearsal and for three hours we did tablework. When the director said we were doing this, my response was, "say what?". I had no clue what it was. He went on to explain that it is getting to know the setting/environment/heritage, etc of our play. So, we talked about the land of Pern and why it was created and for what reasons. We discussed the significance of each scene and what the characters were feeling and how what they did was important and the certain elements we needed to make sure the audience got when watching this performance. For example, here is the first line in the play. We read it and then came up with the following things.

CAPTAIN: Ladies and Gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We are about to land on the planet of Pern. Please make sure your seat belts are securely fastened and your anti-gravity force field is turned to the positive position. You will notice the two escape hatches on either side of the cabin, marked with the old-fashioned word "exit". If there is an emergency landing of any kind, please proceed calmly to the exit hatch nearest you and descend to the ground outside the spaceship. We are now ready for maneuvers. Please stand by...

1. these people are leaving earth
2. why? because of a war (we found this out through some books the assistant director brought)
3. what is Pern? a planet of refuge, a dwelling place that eventually turns into a permanent home for harpers (singers), dragon riders, dragons, fire lizards, fisherman, people of all ages, etc.

So there you have it. Tablework. It was very interesting to go through this process because it was just a time to sit down and think about the play and imagine how it would be on stage and to really get into character. In all of the other plays I've been in the director(s) have just jumped right into blocking and rehearsals and leave the characters and research to the actors and actresses at home. So, it was great and I'm looking forward to what my director has in store for us next....

Here are some great links:
The Worlds of Anne McCaffrey
Book Review of Dragonsong by Emily

2008 Emmys

2008-09-22T14:06:00.000-07:00

You have to see this performance by Josh Groban at the Emmys!

The lliad

2008-09-19T14:46:00.000-07:00

I've always had a very optimistic view on classical books and have never really shrunken away from them. So, when I found out that two of the books in my literature class this year were the Iliad and the Odyssey, I was pretty pumped. I was first exposed to cyclops and Zeus and great battles on this TV show I watched a long time ago called Wishbone. In every episode the dog would go into a book and live out the story as one of the characters; I started a petition when they took the show off television. :)

Anyways, I'm almost done now with the Iliad and it was pretty good. It's definitely not in lack of action. Sometimes the characters get a little confusing, but it's those moments when Homer writes those small paragraphs in the middle of the book that make it all worth it. The ones where the characters realize who they really are or find out their comrade is dead or alive. Those passages are just really good lit and make me smile and shiver.

In Remembrance..

2008-09-11T12:40:00.000-07:00

7 years ago today, 4 planes were hijacked. 2 of them flew in to the World Trade Centers, 1 into the Pentagon, and 1 was crash landed into a field when the passenger fought back.

I believe my mom knew somebody who worked in one of the WTCs that was never found.

My prays go out to every person in this world who was affected by this act.

Psalm 119:114

You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.

Psalm 147:3

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Football, New House, Acting Update, Fav. Song

2008-08-30T10:47:00.000-07:00

The crowd sits restless in their metal sits trying to hear above the roaring of the stadium. The announcer's voice soars above the excitement. And now please welcome, THE BOISE STATE BRONCOS!! The emotion I feel when I see those players running out through the smoke, is almost indescribable. Their passion is unbelievable, all their hard work about to get tested with on the spot decisions. I'm not a sport player at all, but watching this team play football is very special to me.

Tonight my team plays their season opener against Idaho State, GO BRONCOS!!
About three weeks ago, my family moved into our new house. After living for a year in our apartment it's nice to be able to move around a little bit more. We have so many boxes though, it's insane. I've lived without a lot of this stuff for two years (storage) so I've decided to get rid of tons, but definitely not any of my books. It's been a very exciting adventure! :)

Acting Update!! So, I auditioned for my school's play, The Secret Garden and got the part of Nurse Grey. I'm really happy that I got in because the audition and cut process was pretty scary at times. Nurse Grey will be fun to play because she has some attitude and a mind of her own!
Also, I just got informed that I get to perform a couple of songs from Schoolhouse Rock with some of my cast members for a program that our city is having. The part I'm pretty pumped about is that we get to do it at this amazing Amphitheater....

And, finally my favorite songs of the week.

I Believe by Fantasia.

Fly on the Wall by Miley Cyrus

Fairy Tale Story with Proverb Moral

2008-08-19T14:54:00.000-07:00

At the end of last year, my Bible teacher had us write a fairy tale with a proverb moral. We had already finished his exam and we needed something to do with the extra time. I was very excited since writing is one way for me to escape from everything for a bit. Anyways, I wrote it in class and turned it into him. To my sadness though, school ended and I still had not gotten it back. Thankfully though, because of his amazing organizational skills he had still saved it over summer. So, I have my story and I can share it with you now.

Side note: I have many different moods when I write, as I'm sure you all do. The mood I was in that day was (as you will soon be able to tell) dramatic and morbid. ;)

“A man burdened with bloodshed will flee into a pit, let no one help him.” Proverbs 28:17

The murderer plunged through the darkness of the castle cellar, not sure where he was going but knowing he needed to find the door soon. Blood dripped from his jacket and from his hand which held a small knife. This one small silvery object had taken the life of a young girl, a princess. Her smiling face never to be seen again. The owner of the knife came to a quick stop as he found the door handle and wrenched it open. There were two staircases ahead of them and not having enough time to ponder, randomly chose the left, leaping up the stairs two at a time. He heard some commotion below and hastened to find a way out into the open, the scene that just happened replaying through his mind.

“Stay away from me, GO AWAY!” she yelled
He came closer, “you know who I am”
She trembled, “I won’t tell anyone, I promise!!”
He raised his knife to strike her…

THUD. A sound on the nearby wall shook him back to the present time as whizzing arrows shot past him. Finally, he found a door that led outside; he grabbed the handle and twisted, exposing himself to the sunlight. Before him he saw people in great distress running around, cows mooing, and children screaming. He secretly tried to mingle with the crazy crowd, but his bloody clothes didn’t go unnoticed. A little girl inquired, “Sir, why do you have blood on your shirt? Mom! Come look at this man, he’s all bloody!” That did it. The crowd started shouting, knowing the man they were looking for was in their midst. He started running but that just made it even more obvious. Ahead, the killer saw a hole in the ground and taking a chance, threw himself into it.

His screams could be heard a mile away. This strange man had jumped into a deep pit of poisonous snakes, the pit used only for witches and sorcerers. The crowd became silent as they stood watching the happenings in the hole. After a while though, they started becoming restless and nervous.
“Should someone help him?” A lady cried. Another woman chimed in, “he should go before the king!” The crowds silenced again as a deep old voice that dripped with wisdom slowly said, “anyone who rescues that man in the pit will get a punishment that will shock even the king’s torturers. “ The people pondered his words thoughtfully, but suddenly a high voice rang throughout the people.

“I will rescue him!”

A young boy, trying to prove his manhood strode up and produced a long rope. He swung it down into the pit and called to the now horribly swollen, bitten man, “Grab hold of the rope, sir.”

The murderer got the rest of his energy together and grabbed onto the rope, but the second the foolish boy summoned his strength to pull the killer up, the rope became both of their deaths. It started changing its shape becoming boiling lava, blazing fire, sharp nettles, and lastly electricity shocks that burned the skin to a crisp. It took less than a minute for both human beings to be unrecognizable in their piles of ashes. One in the pit, one outside of it.

The old man shook his head as the crowd subsided to go mourn their princesses’ death. If only the boy had listened to the man’s words. He had been so caught up in getting some glory and fame that he had forgotten all of the wise advice he had received growing up and had wasted it all in one stupid decision.

THE END.

School House Rock! Live! Jr.

2008-08-10T16:23:00.000-07:00

Three weeks ago, I participated in a Youth Theater Summer Program. It lasted for two weeks and was held every day for eight hours. Very intense. ;) Anyways, during those days the cast of 11 worked with a professional vocal teacher, tech dude, actor, and dance choreographer. I was able to learn a lot about musical theater and work on certain techniques for my own acting and singing. At the end of the program we put on School House Rock! Live! Jr. It's based of the PBS show that helps kids learn their numbers and other important school related stuff. At first I was a little skeptical, because singing school songs didn't sound really that much fun. But, actually the songs and the script were just so cute and fun and the songs are very very addictive. ;) Also, we got a lot of kids come to our performances and they just loved it and for me that's what makes performing amazing for me. The thrill of telling the audience a story and having them react in certain ways to your different actions and words.

I would post one of the songs here, but so far I can only find the really old versions of them. There are newer more improved songs that we used, so when I find some I will post them here.

Contest Results

2008-08-05T17:38:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,

Thanks so much for participating in my drawing! I'm totally thrilled to be able to give these books out. And, here are the winners!!!

EDGE

BRADY

POLKA DOTTED PICKLES

So, if you three could e-mail your addresses to me at: dramaqueen998@gmail.com, I will have your books sent out to you! ;)

UPCOMING BLOGGING MATERIAL:
1. Starting School
2. Schoolhouse Rock LIVE jr.
3. Moving!!!
4. The TWILIGT SAGA!!

Love to you all!!

Author Interview: Brandon Mull

2008-07-30T18:30:00.000-07:00

Brandon Mull is the author of Fablehaven, a series of books about the fascinating world of two siblings and their adventures on a magical reserve. His newest addition is Fablehaven: Grip of the Shadow Plague that was released on the 21st of April. Brandon has also written The Candy Shop War. To learn more about him visit his website here.

How did you come up with the name, Fablehaven?
After a huge brainstorm session, Fablehaven sat atop the list. I liked that it was composed of real words. "Fable" feels a little like a fairytale and obviously a "haven" is a refuge, so "Fablehaven" sounded like a refuge for fairytale creatures. I also liked that "Fablehaven" was not a word out there on the Internet. Nobody owned Fablehaven.com

How do you feel having your series in the spotlight right alongside Harry Potter, The Twilight Saga, etc.?
It is exciting that the Fablehaven series is finding a large and devoted audience. You write a book hoping an audience will find it and enjoy it, so the growing success of the series is a vast relief. It means I can make writing my full-time job, which has been my dream since childhood.

Do you think success has changed you?
The success I've found means I can spend a bigger chunk of my time typing in my basement office. It also means I now have a basement. And an office.
It also means I spend a big chunk of my year visiting schools, bookstores, and libraries. In college, teaching was on my short list of prospective careers, and visiting schools helps me scratch that itch. I love motivating kids to read and create.

Did you put any aspects of yourself into Kendra and/or Seth? Who do you relate to the most?
There are some aspects of myself in Kendra and Seth. The way they banter and bicker is similar to the way I bantered with my siblings. As a kid I had more of Seth's sense of adventure. Now I have Kendra's sense of caution. And, of course, I'm fairykind.

What is your definition of a powerful book?
I love it when a story takes me on a fun ride. I want to see characters I care about face involving problems. I want to laugh. I love stories with larger-than-life elements done in a way that feels real and human. I love it when I forget I'm reading, when I'm just experiencing the story.

I believe I read somewhere that you have kids. If so, what was (or is) one of the books they begged you to read when they were little?
My oldest is four. We've been reading Mo Willems books like Knuffle Bunny. Recently we tried the Invention of Hugo Cabret. She really likes reading time.

Do you want to be writing books all your life, if not, what else do you want to do?
I've always said, rich or poor, successful or anonymous, writing books is what my brain was built to do. Ever since I can remember, I've naturally made up stories. It is my default mode. I have many, many ideas for after the Fablehaven series. I expect to write a book or two a year for the next thirty years, if not longer. Keep an eye out. The best is yet to come.

If you could have the whole world's attention for 5 minutes, what would you say?
It would be sweet to tell an awesome joke.

It would be tempting to plug my books.

I would want to tell everybody the truth. I mean, with the world's attention, shouldn't I be enlightening? I feel I understand some nuggets of wisdom that might be worth hearing. But it is really hard to give people undiluted truth. Not to mention dangerous. I prefer trying to write truthful fiction and deliver little insights that way. Hopefully I'll keep getting better at my craft.

If you could meet any person in the world, who would it be?
Hmmm. It would be somebody inaccessible. Somebody I could talk with about things that interest me. Maybe J.K. Rowling? Or Steven Spielberg?

Thank you so much Brandon it was an honor to interview you!

BONUS: Thanks to the Shadow Mountain Publishing Company I get to feature a book give away for this interview. So, please leave a comment here and I will enter you into a drawing. The first three I draw will receive a copy of Fablehaven Volume 1.

The Patron Saint of Butterflies by Cecilia Galante

2008-07-27T12:34:00.000-07:00

The Patron Saint of Butterflies by Cecilia Galante

For Agnes, the religious commune is her life. It’s all she has known and she loves it. Dedicating her life to God is the best possible thing to do and she will stop at nothing to make her body pure and sinless for sainthood by any measures necessary. That includes starving herself, sleeping on sharp rocks, and respecting Emmanuel for beating her almost to death when she sins. He is the most amazing man in the world and Agnes’ idol. Her best friend Honey also resides there, but she is very sinful and Agnes is encouraged to stay away from her.

Honey is very bitter. Who could blame her? Her mother abandoned her and left her at Mount Blessings, a stupid commune. She is forced to dedicate her life to God or more like Emmanuel and his stupid wife. She recognizes that this place isn't right and when Agnes' Grandmother comes for a visit Honey realizes this is the help she has been looking for to get out.

Through these two girls’ journeys, emotions are tampered with and faith is challenged. New identities are revealed and old ones reappear after many years.

Some of the books I read I can describe as fun/light reads. Cecilia's book was definitely not one of those reads. It was a powerful, intense exploration of two amazingly real characters' lives. I really cared about Agnes and Honey and hated their enemies with a loathing that shocked me.

Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller by Sarah Miller

2008-07-23T12:50:00.000-07:00

Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller by Sarah Miller

Once a healthy, energetic child, Helen Keller is now deaf, blind, dumb, and with no hope for a future. Annie Sullivan, a young lady with an extremely troubled life comes into Helen’s world to try and get her to see, hear, and talk through her hands. But how do you introduce someone to language when communication and comprehension are non-existant for the present.

Miss Spitfire has been on my book list ever since it came out, but I wasn’t able to read it until just a bit ago. Usually books that I’m really pumped up for and that I anticipate way to much turn out being not as good as I thought. Thankfully Sarah Miller’s book did not disappoint. Even though I was already really familiar with Helen and Annie’s story, Miss Spitfire was unique and still kept me on my toes.

Top 100

2008-07-21T14:44:00.000-07:00

(From Sarah Miller's blog.)According to The Big Read, the average adult has only read 6 of the top 100 books on this list.

The instructions:
Look at the list and:
Bold those you have read.
Italicize those you intend to read.
Underline the books you LOVE.

Even though I'm not an adult, I'm still doing it! ;)

1. Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
2. The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien (read first two books)
3. Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
4. Harry Potter series - JK Rowling
5. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
6. The Bible (almost there)
7. Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
8. 1984 - George Orwell
9. His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
10. Great Expectations - Charles Dickens

11. Little Women - Louisa M Alcott
12. Tess of the D'Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy
13. Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
14. Complete Works of Shakespeare
15. Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
16. The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien
17. Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
18. Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger (I don't get it)
19. The Time Traveller's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
20. Middlemarch - George Eliot

21. Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell
22. The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald
23. Bleak House - Charles Dickens
24. War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
25. The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
26. Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
27. Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
28. Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
29. Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll 30. The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame

31. Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
32. David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
33. Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis
34. Emma - Jane Austen
35. Persuasion - Jane Austen
36. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis
37. The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
38. Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres
39. Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
40. Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne

41. Animal Farm - George Orwell
42. The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown (abridged audio, but I'm counting it anyway)
43. One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
44. A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving
45. The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
46. Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery
47. Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy
48. The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood
49. Lord of the Flies - William Golding (HATE)
50. Atonement - Ian McEwan

51. Life of Pi - Yann Martel
52. Dune - Frank Herbert
53. Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons
54. Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
55. A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth
56. The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
57. A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
58. Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
59. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
60. Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez

61. Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
62. Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
63. The Secret History - Donna Tartt
64. The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
65. Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
66. On The Road - Jack Kerouac
67. Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy
68. Bridget Jones' Diary - Helen Fielding
69. Midnight's Children - Salman Rushdie
70. Moby Dick - Herman Melville

71. Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
72. Dracula - Bram Stoker
73. The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett
74. Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson
75. Ulysses - James Joyce
76. The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
77. Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome
78. Germinal - Emile Zola
79. Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
80. Possession - AS Byatt

81. A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
82. Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
83. The Color Purple - Alice Walker
84. The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
85. Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
86. A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
87. Charlotte's Web - EB White
88. The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom
89. Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
90. The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton

91. Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
92.The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery
93. The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
94. Watership Down - Richard Adams
95. A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
96. A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute
97. The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas
98. Hamlet - William Shakespeare
99. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
100. Les Miserables - Victor Hugo

Hm... 11 is not very good, but I still have a while until I become an adult. ;) This list has a lot of really good books that I AM going to read before I die, though..

Library Run!!!

2008-07-15T18:49:00.000-07:00

Raleigh's Page by Alan Armstrong

Beyond the Spiderwick: The Nixie's Song by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holy Black

Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi

Nobody's Princess by Esterh Fresner

Dave at Night by Gail Carson Levine

Dating Hamlet: Ophelia's Story

Avalon High by Meg Cabot

Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

Summer Vacation

2008-07-13T19:40:00.000-07:00

Everyone has their own definition of home.

'home is where the heart is’
‘home is where your loved ones are’
‘home is where ever you family is’

While all these are true and meaningful I now have my own definition. Home is where you can be yourself. My trip to Idaho was fabulous! I enjoyed every minute of it, except when we left of course.. Thank you to all my friends who fed me, housed me, and took time to see me. I love you all!

Some of my highlights are below:
1. Good “hang” time with my friends

2. M. Night Shyamalan's marathon. Erin and I watched all of his movies (except The Happening, in one week, it was amazing!)

3. Hiking, playing games, and celebrating 4^th of July with great friends

4. Watching Camp Rock (and tearing it apart with Erin).
5. Getting my new computer. Brady had just shown me something so awesome!

6. Visiting with our friends in Seattle

7. Singing and performing with Erin

Random pics from the week:

The TV Show LOST. (no spoilers)

2008-07-11T13:40:00.000-07:00

I don’t watch a lot of TV, probably because we don’t have cable. But, that doesn’t mean I’m out of the loop. Lost has been rising steadily on the charts and with the season finale (it ran for 7 years) being this year even more advertising has been going on. While surfing online, I figured out that I could watch the first 4 seasons of Lost online, for free. FOR FREE! ;D Anyways, I started and couldn’t stop. As of right now, I’m through the 3rd season heading to the 4th.

The reasons I like this show are many.

The quality acting: Being stranded on an island would be a very emotionally scaring event in your life. Different people would experience different things, tempers would flare and kindness would abound. The cast in this show has to make it real and they do for me.
Plot: The storyline in this show is just so cool. Yeah, 30 some odd people survive a horrific plane crash and are not able to make contact because where they are is not exactly on the map, but hey, nothing is impossible right? ;) Anyways, the way everything ties together through all the seasons is pretty impressive. Even though I haven’t watched the end of season seven I’m almost positive that questions will be answered that were asked in season 1.

Continuous surprises: Kind of continuing on from the plot, the surprises in this show are shocking. A lot of times I can predict the endings of movies and shows or guess the next “shocker” scene. I’ve guessed only a couple so far, everything else has been so unique. ..
Many emotions I get: *whew* I can’t tell you how many times I felt for these characters. My gut dropped when they came upon a hard challenge, I giggled for joy when they succeeded, my stomach hurt when they were in pain, and when they were sad or when someone or something died the sorrow I felt was hard to deal with.

Now, you may ask me: Traci, why are you still watching this show when at some point it completely takes over your emotions. My answer is: because I like it. To me, when a book, movie, or person can mess with my emotions it is well written, well done, or well spoken. My goal in writing and acting is to be so powerful and so open that I can let people into my emotions while opening theirs up. People talk about drastic ways to change the world; recycle, think green, minimize driving time, etc.

All of these ideas might or might not help us in the future, but I think that before the world is changed we as people need to be more willing to understand other people’s feelings and emotions as well as our own.

How to Ditch Your Fairy by Justine Larbalestier

2008-07-09T12:41:00.000-07:00

How to Ditch Your Fairy by Justine Larbalestier

Parking Fairies: Fairies who help you get the best parking spaces anywhere, anytime.

Yep, that sounds amazing, but for Charlie it’s the worst thing that could ever happen to her. Why couldn’t she get a shopping fairy or a good hair fairy? The problem with Charlie’s particular fairy is that her family is always wanting her to accompany them every possible event where the parking is so called, “impossible.” This gets old after 14 years. She is continuously looking for a solution to her problem until one day she gets a lead on a possible way, but it could involve danger and maybe even ultimate death.

The title to this book is really luring and I was really excited when it came in the mail. I couldn’t wait to read it. While the story idea was definitely interesting it lacked plot development and the characters were pretty shallow. I was left with unanswered questions and a slight misunderstanding of everything.

Interview - N.A. Nelson

2008-07-07T17:33:00.000-07:00

N.A. Nelson is a debut author with her first book being 'Bringing the Boy Home'. (see review here)
She was also a part of Class of 2k8. To learn more about N.A. Nelson go here.

I read somewhere that you are going to donate some of your book proceeds to the Amazon Conservation Team . How did that come about?

I’m going to take that question in its most literal sense. I was sitting in the waiting room of my ophthalmologist’s office, leafing through my InStyle magazine and I came to this article about celebrities and the philanthropic causes they support. Hilary Swank sounded so passionate in her interview, and although I don’t remember what her cause was (which is terrible of me), it stirred me into thinking. Wait, I could do that with my book. I SHOULD do that with my book. And so I went home and googled Mark J. Plotkin, author of Tales of a Shaman’s Apprentice (a book I used a lot in my research), found The Amazon Conservation Team (ACT), emailed them and said "I want to work with you guys."

If you could meet anyone in the world, who would it be?
The Dalai Lama

Who do you relate with the most, Tirio or Luka?
I think I’m a combination of them both. I’m like Tirio in that I needed to prove some things to certain people in my life, things I didn’t realize I needed to prove until after the book was written and my husband asked me this exact same question. And I’m like Luka in that I don’t usually like to lure giant spiders out of their lairs while I’m wearing a blindfold. J

If you could have the whole world’s attention for 5 minutes, what would you say?
To be still. To turn off all electronic and battery powered devices, to get out of cars, stop talking and just be present for five minutes. I know not everyone knows how to meditate, but I think just the action of us all being still together would be pretty powerful.

Are you currently working on another book right now? If so, what is it about?
Thanks so much for asking! Unfortunately I made a new rule about a year ago not to talk about my works-in-progress. I was pretty badly burned after sharing a manuscript before it was ready and I was 'thisclose' to giving up writing altogether because of the block that I got after it. Only my critique group has access to my early drafts. But I will say that my next novel is very different than Bringing the Boy Home; it’s a contemporary, humorous, YA with a female protagonist and it takes place in the good ol’ US of A. I will also say, I’m having fun with it.

I see you are participating in Class of 2k8. How has that worked out for you and would you recommend it for other debut authors?
I am so fortunate to be in the Class of 2k8 and I would definitely, without a doubt, do it all over again. THAT being said, it does take work. It does take time. It does take money. If you realize those things up front and are prepared to be part of a team, through all the ups and downs , then yes, I would recommend it to other debut authors. I can go into any bookstore now and see books from 27 other authors whose journeys I know from beginning to end. I’ve learned more about marketing than I ever did in my college marketing class. I’m a smarter, more savvy, confident person because of the Class of 2k8 and I know Bringing the Boy Home got a definite sales boost because of my participation in this group.

Thank you so much Nina for taking the time to answer my questions!

Happy 4th of July!!

2008-07-04T07:13:00.000-07:00

If tomorrow all the things were gone,
I’d worked for all my life.
And I had to start again,
with just my family by my side

I’d thank my lucky stars,
to be livin here today.
‘Cause the flag still stands for freedom,
and they can’t take that away.

And I’m proud to be an American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

From the lakes of Minnesota,
to the hills of Tennessee.
Across the plains of Texas,
From sea to shining sea.

From Detroit down to Houston,
and New York to L.A.
Well there's pride in every American heart,
and its time we stand and say.

That I’m proud to be an American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

And I’m proud to be and American,
where at least I know I’m free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

-Lee Greenwood