The Choices of Love: Part 2

As I got closer to the small house we lived in, I heard Caroline yell, “Elizabeth! Could it have taken you any longer to get home?” I didn’t respond to her but just rubbed her head, messing up her tangly hair, which she had gotten from playing outside all day, I assumed.
“You must wear your best dress when the superintendent comes, so he will think wonderful things about you,” Mama half yelled as she stirred the delicious smelling soup she was brewing.
“I will Mother, don’t you worry about me! I will be just fine.” After dinner, we all sat around a warm fire, while father played on his fiddle. We all sang until it was time for bed. Since Ruthie and I shared a room, we both talked about the superintendent coming and all of the things that I would have to do to get ready for his arrival. We talked for at least an hour, then finally Ruthie just didn’t answer me and I drifted off into a peaceful sleep.
The next two days were spent in anticipation of the superintendent coming and his arrival. After school each day, I spent two hours cleaning the school room from top to bottom, enjoying an excuse to be away from home, and not doing all of the chores my mother had for me. Since I was the oldest, it was a big job, even if Ben was around to help Pa with the farm chores. When I got home, Ben greeted me with my hated nick-name by saying, “Hello, Lizzie. Have you had a good day?”
“Fine thank you. I’m not kidding you, don’t call me that name.”
“Oh my, I almost forgot. Your father went into town again today to see if they had received any news about the superintendent coming, and they heard that he would be here mid-day tomorrow.”
“How exciting! It’s a good thing I stayed to clean today.” as I said this mama yelled, “Elizabeth, Ben, Pa, come on inside, it’s time for supper.”
When I walked in mama informed me, “I made your favorite: chicken pie and green beans! I made it to celebrate the arrival of the superintendent.”
“Why, thank you, Mama. I was just cleaning up the school house. Sorry I got back so late. I wanted it to be nice for when the superintendent came.”
“That’s fine, I understand. Just please, be home on time tomorrow. I could really use your help around the house.”
“I will,” I was abruptly stopped with the entrance of my father and Ben. After they came in, we all sat down to eat and Papa said the blessing, “Dear Father, thank you for the food you have so graciously placed in front of us. Please bless this food and our time together tonight and keep us all safe. In your name, amen.”
Our meal, as promised by my mother, was delicious, and our conversation was centered around the arrival of the superintendent. I was so excited, I barely said anything, but just listened to the conversation of the others at our table. Time for bed came quickly that night for everyone was tired from the hard work that day so they all went to bed shortly after dinner. When I crawled into bed, Ruthie fell asleep quickly, but I couldn’t go to sleep for the knots in my stomach were keeping me awake. I finally did go to sleep, and was quite refreshed when I awoke. I put on my best school dress and tied a ribbon around the neat bun on the back of my head.

________________________

Come back soon if you want to read more! -Bailey

Those Days...

Sometimes you have "those days" where everything does not go the way you wanted it to.

Today was one of those days. Physical Science is a bomb, and I hate it. Having to vacuum. Things not going on very well with your siblings, when you are really trying to love them and show them that. School seems like it is never going to end. It was just one of those days...

But, then I begin to ask my self why these days have to happen...

Why I have to struggle loving my brothers?
Why Physical science was ever invented?
Why school takes so long?
Why the Rainbow vacuum was ever invented?
Why can't I have a good attitude on days like this?
Why you have to have sinus headaches days in a row?
Why God lets you struggle?

So many why's, and I'm not quite sure about the answers to any of the questions, which frustrates me. But I know over time God will reveal the answer to all of these "whys". And on these days, I just have to tough through it, and know that next day I get to start over, and most of all remember that because God loves me I have a responsibility to love those around me even if I am having a bad day. Then I can listen to Taylor Swift or Hillsong United, make cards, and text Paige(thanks Paige), and then I am mostly all better.

I just have to remind myself, that even though there are so many unknowns, I do know one thing. God loves me, and lets me struggle so I want to fix those problems even more. And that also means I have to have a good attitude and love those around me, even when I don't want to.

And because he loves me so much, I can do all things through him who gives me strength.

~Thanks for reading my nonsense~Bailey~Psalm 56:3~

The Choices of Love: Part 1

This is the story that I had to write last semester for school. I will be posting it in portions here on my blog! Enjoy-
_____________________


“Elizabeth,” yelled Mama, “Hurry up and sweep the floor!”
“Mama, I must go, I can’t be late for school. I have told the children not be late numerous times, yet I arrive late to class and set a bad example. Can I do it when I get home?” I replied hurriedly.
“Well I suppose, but be home in time to help Ruthie and me with dinner, do you understand?”
“Yes, Mama,” I yelled and ran out the door, after I kissed my baby brother on the forehead. I hopped up on old Trigger and rode off to school, thankful to leave the chores of the farm for at least a few hours. When I arrived, I was relieved that none of the students had gotten there. I walked in to the school, set my things down and began to welcome the students as they hurried into the classroom.
“Good morning Laura, good morning Sammy. How are you all doing this morning?”
“Fine, thank you.” they both replied. As more and more students came in, the room filled with noise faster and faster. Finally, it was 8:30, time for school to begin.
Before I could catch my breath, lunch time had come and gone and all of the students were walking home. The girls talked of dolls and the new dress their mothers were making them, and the boys talking of sneaking by their favorite fishing spot on their way home. When I rode up to the house, the first thing I heard was the voice of Ben, our farm hand, “Lizzie, you’re finally home,”
“Ben, you know how I hate that name.”
“Forget that, your Pa was in town today and he heard that the superintendent is observing teachers in this area and he is coming here, to our little town!”
“You are pulling my leg Ben.”
“No, I’m not, go ask your father. He’ll tell you the same thing.”
“Fine then. I will!”
I galloped over to the barn where I saw Ruthie helping Jacob, who was just three, feed the chickens and get their eggs. Both of them came running up to me, giving me a big hug.
“Elizabeth, you’re home!” yelled Ruthie, as she ran up.
“How’s you’re day going, sweet girl?” I asked her.
“Great, how was school? Was Joseph acting up again?”
“Thankfully, no. But Sammy took his turn picking on all of the girls,” We both laughed as I walked away to go see Pa.
“Pa, is it true that the superintendent is coming here?” I asked him with a questioning voice.
“Yes, my sunshine, he is.” he replied.
“Wow, I guess Ben was telling the truth!” I whispered under by breath, with a smile on my face, as I walked away to help Mama with dinner.
_________________________

I would love your feedback- I will post more in a few days! Thanks for reading~Bailey

I'm a Writer...

It all started when I was about 8 or 9 years old, I started writing little stories. The ones I remember were about a mystery in a lighthouse, and another about having many surprises while Trick-or-treating. I would start some stories, but never finish them, in fact I still do that sometimes and I have got to break that habit. One was about a mirror that was shattered and it contained a treasure map, another was a journal of a girl traveling the Oregon trail with her family.

I really started getting serious about my writing at the beginning of my second semester of 8th grade(last year). We had to write a short story- I was thrilled, this was not an assignment it was fun! My story took me 3 weeks to complete and was 10 pages long. This story was called, "The Choices of Love" and it was about a girl(set in the 1700s) who was a teacher and...well I'm not going to tell you because I think I'm going to post it here bit by bit.

Anyway, after school got out I wrote another story called, "Finding Love", being completely different than my other story and giving lots of perspectives and experiences that I have been through personally. I might post that one too.

Now, I am currently working on a story(after school, not as an assignment), which is also completely different than the other two, and I am considering using a self-publisher to publish my story! Eek...exciting! I feel that this story is going to be my best one yet, now it will take a long time to write this one, but I am so excited to see how it turns out in the end! When my mom read the 12 pages I have so far, she said to my dad, "She does this for fun and as a relief from her school day. It's just crazy, I think if she worked at it that she really could become a writer!" That made my morning when my dad told me that on the way to church!

It would be a 1 in a million chance, but my dream is to have a book published, and I believe that if I work hard enough to achieve this goal then it very well could happen. And having the though of being a well known author makes me so very happy.

So this blog is one of the ways that I write...I write to you about many things. Things from my family, to friends, and alot of random that you probably don't care about, but I just love to write it down.

I have a passion for writing.
I use writing as I decompresser after school, I will write 3 pages of my story after school each day.

I love to write, because I was born a writer.

~Your Author~Bailey~Psalm 56:3~

Pray for a purpose...

I come to you all today and ask you to pray for my dear friend Mary. She was supposed to be at Gardner Webb University starting her college classes yesterday, instead she is here, at home, struggling with several viruses. One of them being Mono. For those of you who don't know what that is, Mono is basically a virus that sucks all of the energy out of your body and makes you tired for months. She is so tired, and weary, and discouraged, because who wouldn't be excited about starting college? But when you get sick and are exhausted...you can just imagine how she feels.

So I come to you and ask you to pray for Mary.
Pray that God shows her why she is struggling with this.
Pray that she will heal quickly.
Pray that she will simply be encouraged by those who love her.
Pray that God will show her a purpose through all of this, that she would not be discouraged, but that through everything she will know how to praise Him and He will be glorified through it all.

Please pray for Mary.

~Thanks~ Bailey~ Philippians 4:13~

P.S. you can read her blog by looking at the blog list and clicking on "Mary who's amazing" because my linky thing won't work!

Charmed Life series by Jenny B. Jones

*update* If you want to find out more about her books go to jennybjones.com*

So, I just finished a Christian series of three books called the Charmed Life Series by Jenny B. Jones. THEY WERE AMAZING. Thank you Emily Grace for recommending them to me! I aboslutely loved them. With equal parts comedy, mystery, romance, and sarcasm how can a book not be good?

The first book, So Not Happening, was about her moving from Manhattan after her mom and dad getting a divorce and her mom remarrying a man who lived in Oklahoma. When she writes an insultive post about her new country town on her old school's advice column, finding friends is difficult. Mainly, you see her trying to adjust getting used to her new life and of course, like in all the books, getting into a bit of danger with a mystery, oh and don't forget the drama with her boyfriend back at home!

The second book, I'm So Sure, is about her getting a job and finding more friends at school. She once again entangles herself in a mystery at school with Prom Queen. And since she doesn't have the money to buy a prom dress, she must get a job to earn the money! She also finds her dad has been hiding something from her and her mom. And- she begins to find someone who she likes-alot.

The third book, So Over my Head, is about a situation her family and she ends up finding a mystery both at home and with her real dad and his new fiance...oh yeah! Two mysteries for Bella Kirkwood and her oh so funny sidekick Ruthie to solve...and don't forget the hot geek that she is crushing on, and recently broke up with, from school, Luke(hehe)! With a relationship in the air, along with two mysteries, either this book or the second one had to be my favorite!

I strongly encourage you to read these books and enjoy them....Seriously, you need to read them, you will love them(if you are a girl)! Have a nice rest of your week~Bailey

At the end of the week...

Comes the weekend. I love the weekend. Usually the weekend brings relaxation, family time, friend time, and church. This weekend happens to bring me a lot of relief. School has worn me out this week, it always does on the first week. But now that I have sort of a schedule it will get better.

But, I am still looking forward to this weekend. Last night about 50 people from our youth group and college department went to the Hillsong United concert, which was really, really good! It was an awesome worship experience. Today I
am gonna have about 5 hours of girl time with my bestie, which is MUCH needed.



Then tomorrow we have church and family time afterwards, but sadly the weekend is only 3 days long, so then Monday starts back to school and piano and life.

So, since the weekend is so short, try to treasure and appreciate every moment.

Have a wonderful weekend- Bailey