Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Intro to my story

Hello, all!! After scratching my first story (a hopeless vampire story), I started fresh. My new story, yet to be named, is about a girl named Helenorah. When she finds out her grandmother is sick, Helenorah goes on an epic adventure to try and save her; along the way befriending dragons, getting caught in the slave trade, running away, and meeting plenty of interesting people.

Here... is my intro.

Helenorah laid in the field looking up at the blue sky. Today she felt as lazy as the few puffy white clouds that were meandering across the early spring sky. A gust of wind rolled by, blowing her loose skirt up to her face. She pushed it down and gave a little laugh. She heard the sheep baaing in the background, behind the rustling of the trees and the whisper of the breeze. High above her she saw Chinny, her red tailed hawk flying in circles.
Breaking the calmness of the morning, she heard her mother
"Heley! HELENORAH! Where are you, girl?"
Helenorah quickly got up, grabbing the bundle of sticks that was laying next to her. She had been told to come out and feed the sheep and gather wood, something that should have taken her no longer than an hour had so far taken her three. But it is so nice out! She thought as she ran back to the house.
"Coming, Mother!" She called. She ran across the field, back to the tiny cottage she called home.
She saw her mom outside, beating the rugs. As she got closer, Helenorah's mom stopped and waited for her. She skidded to a halt, and leaned against the house while she caught her breath. Her mom scowled at her.
"Helenorah Louise, what in the world have you been doing? Its nearly ten o'clock. And look at that sorry excuse for firewood you've got there." She grabbed the bundle out of Helenorah's arms and walked inside, Helenorah grabbed the rugs and followed her.
"Sorry, mom. It is just such a nice day today!" Helenorah explained.
"Well, I don't care how nice it is today, you have chores that need to be done. And I sure know your grandmother is not going to be out there, collecting sticks!"
At that they both laughed, and Helenorah's grandmother walked out of the kitchen, drying her hands on her dark green tunic.
"What are you youngsters laughing about?" She said, her eyes wrinkled as she smiled.
"Oh, I'm not as young as I used to be, Mama..." Helenorah's mother told her, wiping her face with the back of her hand.
"Neither am I!" Helenorah piped up.
"Oh, you both are younger than me, and that is young enough." Grandma joked
"Well, that's not very hard these days!" They all laughed as Helenorah laid the rugs down.
She took the bundle from her mother, went over to the hole in the floor that was covered by a wooden door, she opened the door and threw the sticks down into the wood burner.
As the family sat down to eat lunch, Chinny flew in the open door and sat of the back of Helenorah's chair.
"Hello there, ChinChin." She said, offering Chinny a piece of cheese. She knew her mother was not very fond of Chinny, ever since Chin had left that dead mole on the doorstep. Poor thing, she didn't have the chance to eat it before mom stepped on it. Chinny nibbled the piece of cheese that Helenorah was holding, and Helenorah looked back across the table at her family. Her mom finished eating, and got up.
"Well, back to the daily grind." She said
"Oh, I think I am going to go lay down." Grandma told her as she got up and went to her room. Chinny hopped onto Helenorah shoulder, and they went to finish chores.

©Jessica Crihfield 2011

Monday, February 14, 2011

How People Grow

"How People Grow - What the Bible reveals about personal growth" is a book written by Dr. Henry Cloud (no relation to Charlie St. Cloud) and Dr. John Townsend. They are two Christian psychologists and this book was written to help people understand growth in their life from a christian perspective.
I am reading this book for Young Life leadership, and right off the bat I loved it. Before I started reading it, I must admit, I was a bit apprehensive. I mean a book about personal growth? Boring! Right? Wrong. This book shattered many misconceptions I had about myself, many of which I am sure many other people have.
I am not very far into the book, but within the first few chapters it has brought up an issue that has been prevalent in my life. I get depressed often, and it seems like I lose hope. When I am happy, I am full of praise for God, yet when I get down I tend to feel like He cant help, like my life problems are different separate from my spiritual growth.
But this book has helped to point out that they are not, that "all growth is spiritual growth."
I don't know. Maybe you should just read it for yourself.

Check out Drs. Cloud and Townsend!

More info on YoungLife?

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Cleveland Travel

So, with no luck finding my book, I got sidetracked. Like the new font? I am proud to say that I have entered my FIRST photography contest! I am not expecting to win, but it is exciting, and let's just say a week (or 4 days, second place) vacation free sounds pretty nice....
I sent 9 photos into three categories (3 photos/cat.):
- People of the world
- Places of the world
- Close to home
Or something like that. I will try to get a link with my photos up as soon as I can figure it out, but for now - here is a link to the contest:

http://www.cleveland.com/travelcontest/index.ssf/2011/01/the_plain_dealer_2011_travel_p.html

Wish me luck!

Monday, February 7, 2011

Three Christs of Ypsilanti - Milton Rokeach

Wow! First post since October... I found myself getting bored with jewelery making. It was more of a habit for me, and the thrill of it wears off, well, quite easily.
Anyhow. I felt that it was time to turn over a new leaf.
Being an English/Psychology major, I love books. I love writing, I love grammar, and I love words. I write poetry, and am currently working on two books. As I read, and write, I shall update you with whatever adventure I go on next.
Starting with my frantic search for the book The Three Christs of Ypsilanti by Milton Rokeach. It is a book telling of the experiment done in the 60's involving three men in a psychiatric hospital. the catch? They all think they are Jesus Christ. I am crazy about the idea of this, and despite many reviews saying this book was horrible and sad, I want very much to read it.

Peace and Blessings.