Mexico -- In All.

I kept a journal throughout my whole Oaxaca missions trip, so I'm just gonna post the entrees with pictures that were taken of the trip. If you go to the GFM (Global Frontier Missions) channel on YouTube, you can watch what the trip was like. Just click anything from Group 3 '09, and you'll see us!
Anyway, read and enjoy (^_^)

Day 1, July 14th, 2009

Yesterday we got to the church at 5:50 am and left for the airport at six. It wasn't really horrible or stressful because we were still in Denver.

We were all scaattered all over the plane on the first one. Caleb and I were the only ones together on the trip. Kristen sat directly behind me, and Alex was behind her. This one guy tried to switch seats with Caleb, but I was like, "No...! Stay..." so the guy's wife was like, "Let the kid sit next to his sister!"

So we kind of just played along and laughed later.

The plane started to take off and we saw crop circles. Evidently, people plant their fields in circles so they can water them that way.

I wrote for a while on the plane and read a bit. Then before we knew it, we were in Dallas.

We ate lunch at Fuddrucker's and stood in line forever at the ticket desk because Doug and Michael (Michael Anderson) decided to make confettii out of the tickets. So we had to get new ones. And waited in line for a long time, and then when we finally got the tickets, they printed two of Kristen (my sister)'s tickets, so Blacklock and I had to wait a bit longer to get one for me.

And then when we got on the plane, I was in C14 (Mexicana Airlines! Woo!), so I had a asle seat next to people I didn't know. The people across the asle had two cute little Mexican boys.

And I got airsick during the sucky landing.

When we got off, we ran through the Mexico City Airport so we could get past the immigration lines faster, but by the grace of God, there wasn't a soul in them! So we were like, "Wah-hoo!" and ran through it.

We had about an hour to kill, so we hung around. Kristen and I got a mango frapp from Starbucks. Why don't they sell those in America??

I had a seat between an girl Daniel's age and an old guy on the way to Oaxaca City Airport. The girl was drawing, so I started to draw, too. It turned out pretty bazzare.

The flight lady came and gave me el jugo de naranja with ice, but then I remembered Blacklock had said not to eat the ice so I didn't get sick from teh water. So I started diggin' in my cup and the nice Mexican dude sitting next to me kindly offered me his barf bag to stick them in. Isn't he the charmer, hahaha.

The landing was rocky, again. So I got sick, again. I didn't puke, but still, sucky landing skills on the captain's part.

From the airbort we met some guy from GFM (I think his name was Jordan) and we took a four hour van ride into the mountains. We played "What's Behind The Green Glass Door?"

I'll give you a hint: You can take puppies, but not dogs. You can take kittens, but not cats.

Shells, but not the sea. Gazelles but not antilopes (altough you can still take a deer).

See if you can figure it out.

Oh, and you can giggle, but not laugh.

I fell asleep the last hour, and Alex got carsick. I also jacked Caleb's hat.

We got to the base and was greeted by rain, interns, and missionaries -- like José!

We got to bed soon after that.

Day 2, July 15th, 2009

We got up early this morning and ate breakfast, and then a few of us helped out with the dishes. It struck me how well everyone works together here. Nobody was fighting.

Then we meditated ont he Word and learned about unreached people groups. (The 10/40 Window and such.)

I am dumbfounded by the senery and how beautiful God has made it. I am reminded that he is amazing, astonishing, incredible, and that I am humbled that the one who made these beautiful mountains cares about me and loves me. He answers my prayers and watches over me. And today he has revieled to me how privalaged I am that he has chosen me to follow him -- of all people. And to know that I love him.

Day 3, July 16th, 2009

Today we had an amazing worship service. I've gotten over my fear of putting my hands up to praise the Lord, and I find it feels so much more personal.

Then we went upstairs to pray. It was a darkened room, and lit with candels, and there was some soft, acoustic Christian music playing.

There were a few Questions projected on the wall:

-God, what kind of fruit am I bearing for your kingdom?

-God, what have I been unwilling to sacrifice for your glory among the nations?

-God, what kind of kingdom steward are you wanting me to be right now?

-God, what roll are you calling me to play in making deciples?

So I have this friend that God's really been putting on my heart to bring to Christ, but the whole complication with Newman has kind of skewed my focus on him.

But in this dark room with so many people just...praying, God spoke to me.

Something I did not understand about what people mean when 'God speaks to you' is that it's not a voice. It's a thought. A really, really strong thought that just resinates in your mind. And you can tell that it's not your own thought. I heard him. He said, "Get on your knees."

I was a little bit hesitant, but I eventually slid to the floor and fell before God on my knees.

And I began to think about my friend again.

So I was asking God, "Well, what should I do? I don't know what to do, where to begin..."

Then I felt the comforting, warm arm of Abby wrap around my shoulder, and a voice just said simply, "Love."

And, no, it wasn't Abby's.

Day 5 , July 18th, 2009

Last night was our first night in Tidaa.

We are staying in a host lady's house. She is really cute, but can't really walk very fast becasue her feet hurt her. She has a little pig -- actualy, two -- and they're both so cute! I petted one, and he was really dirty.

Today we (Me, Amanda, Kristen, and Olivia [the intern]) walked down to the church and ate this huge breakfast of tamales. Doug (Diego) ate fifteen. It was intense.

There's this kid, Erick,

This is Erick, but he refuses to smile for the camera for some reason.

and he's totally my BFF. (Aside from Alex, that is, haha. Inside joke.)

Yesterday Erick asked me to draw him "Un lobo," a wolf on his peice of paper. Then he took it and drew some hills and the sky and a smiling sun with the lobo on it. Then he wrote "con amor" ("with love") under where I'd written his name, and then folded it and wrote "para ti" ("for you"), then gave it to me.

He's so cute.

I thought he was, like, eight, but I guess he's twelve. He follows me everywhere and wants to know what things are in English ("¿Como se dice 'preguntas' en Ingles?" "Questions." "¿Cooestions?" "Questions." "Cooestions." "Uh...si." *laughter*)

We're painting a school, and he was helping me the entire time. Oh, and another thing, I hardly understand a word he says. I always have to ask Tenisha what he said.

The school looks totally cute.

I kept dipping the wrong brush in the oil-pased paint. Which wasn't good...

The food is really good. The first meal, not so much. The Mexicans get offended if 1) you don't finish the food, and 2) if you don't ask for seconds. So chow down, chubby.

The church we're using is cute. Dirt floors and scrapped together with scap metal and soda bottle lids nailed down.

It's the coolest thing. The kitchen is equipped with a wood stove and a table, and a bucket to wash dishes in.

*dishesdishesdishesdishesdishesdishes* -Erick

Erick le gusta los tongue-twisters. He's hilarious. We think he has a little-kid-crush on me. I hope not, because I'll cry (and he probably will, too) when I leave.

Day 7 , July 20th, 2009

Yesterday we hiked up a really steep mountain to a clearing about two miles up. We were going to have church in a cave, so when we got up, we were like, "Where's the cave?"

Well, evidentally, it's another three mile hike uphill from there. So I thought I was totally gonna die, because I totally almost died on the first hike to the clearing.

But the second hike, evidentally, was a heck of a lot easier, even though it was really, really steep. Like, 120 degrees.

But I had my magic stick that helped me make it up.

But we all made it.

We took a breather at the top, and then proceeded to rock climb (with the help from the lime green rope and Benjemon's expertise) to the cave.

Caleb climbed first, and I climbed second. The cave just kept going. Miguel (Michael) said it ended into a tiny passageway that your hand could get stuck in.

Anyway, when we get back down, BFF (Alex) and I used machetes to wack off the outter part of our walking sticks. Then everyone went to the BAT CAVE and into the back cavern. There were bats everywhere! It was like:

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

(O = Bat)

A total myriad of bats, and they would offhandedly fly around your face.

It was cool.

Day 7 , July 20th, 2009

I almost cried. Every else did, too. We all stood in a circle to share a few words, but I couldn't do it. Erick was standing in front of me and we made faces at each other. (because we can't really communicate any other way, even during normal curcumstances.) He was framing me with his fingers like a camera, and then closing them; ca-click! Then I saw this look cross his face like he'd gotten an idea, then he makes a heart with his hands and puts it over his chest. Then he points at me.

I love you.

I smiled at him and started to tear up. He is so sweet. I loved him, too. My little hermano.

I know exactly what I would have said in the circle. "Thank you for opening up your homes for us and feding us your food. It was very good. Thanks for letting us hang with your kids -- I love them. I love all of you, and I will never forget you. I hope I see you again someday."

When we were done and prayed, everyone went around and hugged, saying goodbyes.

I hugged Sochil all thoughout prayer, but hugged her again. She was so sweet. I hugged little Estar, picking her up and holding her tight. I hugged Pedro, the pastor. I hugged Abuelita Ofelia, our host mother. I hugged Maria and kissed her cheek while she cried and said something nice that I didn't understand. I hugged Erick, ignoring how culturally weird that was, and held him close to me. I hugged Andrés after shaking his hand. He was crying. I hugged Sochil again. And then Erick, one last time.

We took a bunch of photos and piled into the van. Erick and Estar stood by the chain-link fence, tears in Estar's eyes, Erick's face stoic, but his eyes shined wetly. Estar blew me a kiss, and then one for Kristen. Erick motioned for me to come back, biting his lip, but I sadly shook my head.

The van pulled away and I saw him with all the things I'd drawn him, and the cranes I had folded.

I wish I had told him I loved him, too. My little hermano.

Day 8 , July 21th, 2009

Now that we're back from Tidaa and away from all that, and that we spent the day reflecting on the trip, I really think that God brought Erick into my life there to teach me through the eyes of a child. Erick doesn't even live in Tidaa, he was visiting cousins from Mexico City where he lives. So it's really a God thing that he was even there.

It's so humbling to think that a little twelve year old boy could teach me so much.

First, I think that God taught me patience through Erick. Even though he didn't understand a word I said, and knew that I didn't understand him, he just loved me.

Most of the time he'd say something, I'd be like, "¿Mande?" So he'd say it again, and I'd have to tell him, "Mas despasio." So he'd say it slower. And then I'd have to ask Amanda or Tenisha what he said, and by then it'd lost its charm or whatever, but he didn't leave my side. He kept trying and trying to communicate with me. Erick was just so patient.

Another thing about him is that he wanted something so bad that he didn't give up. He wanted to talk to me. It just shows me that if I really, really want something, that I shouldn't give up on it. Work for it, and not drop it when it gets too frustrating.

Something else was that he was always so happy. All of the people there were. It didn't even really dawn on me that they were poor until I got home and saw how much we had. It didn't even seem that they were poor, because they weren't. We are the ones who are poor. They were happy with whatever they had because they had each other and they had God. What do we have? We have big houses and cell phones and iPods and laptops, and we still want more. But what did I hear when they prayed?

"Thank you for the stars so we can look at them at night." That's what they said! They said "Gracias," over and over and over again when they prayed. It was the only word that I understood when they talked, but that's what I kept hearing! They aren't always asking God for things, they're thanking him for what they have!

I just need to remember, all of us do, that we have a lot. And I know I don't always realize that.

When I gave Erick something I had made, he would take it and make it even better, and then just give it right back to me because he wanted me to have it. It just struck me that that is the attitude I need to have more than anything. God has blessed me with so much, and I need to make it better, then give it right back to me.

Never in the Bible does it ever say that God says "Thank you" for anything. He will say "Well done" or "Good", but he never says "Thank you" because it's your duty to do good things. Anything that God entrusts me with, I need to make it beautiful and worthy of this King so that I can give it back to him and have him say not "Thank you", but "Well done, thy good and faithful servant."

God has shown me more of His heart through this little boy. Erick has done more for me than he will ever know.

Thank you, brother. I love you, and I will never forget you.

The next day we debriefed, and then the day following, we drove into Oaxaca City to do some shopping. (And one of the interns at the base, Jordan, blew up Doug's pillow with dinamite before we left.) The markets are full of anything you could ever want to buy. Literally. They have anything from dried grasshoppers (to eat, of course. I bought some for my brother), baby turtles, purses, Oaxacan sweatshirts (cooler than they sound), all the way to black mole (moh-lay).
I bought a lime green wool woven backpack, something for Sara, the bag of grasshoppers, a liter of vanilla, a Oaxacan hammock, and a luciador mask (like the one from Nacho Libre. Actually, that movie was filmed in Oaxaca City. Random fact).
We spent the night in a hotel (nice as far as Mexican hotels go) and I finally got a hot shower. Did I mention that the showers at the base are only two minutes long in freezing cold water, and that I didn't shower at all in the four days I stayed in Tidaa? Nope? Okay.
And the window for some reason lead out to the hallway. So we were like a gringa museum. Click on the link and you'll know what a gringo is. ("¿Donde esta Casa del Gringos?" -Blacklock.)
The next morning we were up at 4:30 am so we could get our junk packed up and downstairs by 5:00 and eat a light breakfast, then be able to catch our plane by 7:00. Hence sleeping in the hotel.
So we all pile in the van and I fall asleep, and then we all arrive and pile out, grab our junk, and get in line. Caleb and Michael had bought sombreros the day before and were wearing them, Caleb was wearing his Oaxaca sweatshirt, I had my gifts compiled into my woven lime-green backpack slung across me, and my other one on my back. Kristen had her pretty purse that would have been sixty dollars back in the States with who knows what in it.
My liter of vanilla was in my bag, and the guy searching looks at it and was like, "¿Vah-nill-ah??" in a thick Spanish accent. I nodded, and he warned me that I'd have to throw that out once we got to Mexico City, because they'd take it away.
So we get our seats for our plane. Doug and Amanda I know had seats together, Michael I think was with them. Alex was in the middle of nowhere, and Blacklock and Abby were behind Kristen, me, and Caleb, who were in a row. Kristen had 4F, I had 4E, and Caleb had 4D. F-E-D.
The plane ride was reletively short. I read my book, Kristen read hers, Caleb twitched for a while and fell asleep.
At the Mexico City Airport, I tried to figure out a way to smuggle my liter of vanilla through security. Kristen helped me stick it at the bottom of my non-woven backpack in a bag I bought that looks like a woven blanket, and then we put all my books and Curt over it. We hoped that would keep them from finding it during the searches.
Amanda, Kristen, and I went to Starbucks. Apparently they sell these really yummy sandwiches at the Starbucks in the Mexico City Airport that are all melted and panini-ish and so freaking GOOD. I got one for lunch and ate half, and stuck the other my woven backpack.
Us girls met up with the guys and Abby and sat at Gate 38 waiting for our plane to be called. I ate half of the half of my sandwich waiting. Doug bought a apple soda to smuggle.
Our plane got called and I stuck my bag on the table to be searched. The guy who was looking through my junk wasn't really paying half of his attention, and casually looked through my woven bag, then the first pocket of my non-woven bag where the vanilla was hiding under everything. Nothing. Then he opened the pocket where I had a few pads and a tampon in and he looks -- and then quickly, quickly zips it and gives it back to me.
I almost died laughing in the terminal.
And that's how I smuggled a whole liter of vanilla into America!
Kristen, Caleb, and I were in the same row again. Same seats, different asle. So I was still in the middle seat with Kristen on my left and Caleb on the right with the window seat.
I started reading my book (House by Ted Dekker and Frank Parelli) again as soon as we took off, and Caleb started reading over my shoulder, and then kept reading for, like, ten minutes. I got up to pee, and he was like, "Can I read that?"
I just look at him and was like, "Yee-aah...I've got another one. Go ahead."
So when I get back I dig through my green woven backpack and get The Truth About Forever out and start reading it while he's speeding through the pages.
The flight attendants handed out earphones and then after a few shows on the fold out TVs, a thing about how they make dentures comes on. So the three of us watch that. So. Weird.
Then we keep reading.
Three hours later, we're back in Denver, and I turn my head to see how far Caleb got, and he's like, almost done with the book. Dead serious. I'd read 90ish pages in three hours (note: easily distracted on planes) and he was, like, 300ish pages in.
Everyone piles off the plane and we go through immigration, read a sign about not smuggling parrots in, don't tell anyone about the vanilla, and we spit to drive back to the church (one and a half hours), Kristen and I with Amanda's mom and Amanda and Doug.
Then we go to Red Robin and I get a freckled lemonade, my parents come pick me up, I hug my mom, I hug my dad, and I'm home.

And that was my Mexico Adventure.

Sidenote: My brother has the swine flu (we think, because he had to come home from camp late last night sick, and the camp had one confermed case of H1N1), and I miss Erick.

~Steph

Philippians 4:8

Made this for Mexico homework. It's pretty cool.

Fanfic!

I don't know how many of you were following my Maximum Ride Fanfic called "Still" (the one where Max gets pregnant and has a son named Silence with Fang? Look up "cr0w52" on Fanfiction.net and you can find the whole thing if you want), but for those of you who were, I have an update chapter for you.
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“What? The zoo?” I asked aghast.
Angel and Gazzy had run in while I was feeding Silence and announced that we were going to the zoo today. The Denver Zoo. Fun.
So of course that went over like a ton of freaking bricks. I groaned.
Nobody’s gonna think it’s normal for a seventeen year old girl to be walking around with a eight month old baby in a Snugli slung around her chest. I already get horrible looks from people in the grocery store like, Oh that horrible, dirty child. The things kids do these days…
“Please, Max?” Angel begged. “Silence will be fine, and nobody’s gonna shoot you dirty looks because you and Fang look like responsible teenage parents.” She said “responsible” in a lower, Mr. Collins kind of voice. (Pride and Predjudice, people, stick with me.)
Way to think embarrassing thoughts around a mind reader. Dimwit.
“What’s going on?” Fang asked, suddenly just there and leaning on the doorframe. He walked in and took the bottle of formula that I was feeding our son, and taking Silence in his strong arms. “Hey, there,” he cooed, looking into our baby’s beautiful dark chocolate eyes and smiling in a special way that he never did for anyone else. Not even me.
Fang sat down next to me on the bed. I leaned my head on his shoulder. “The zoo,” I told him.
He kissed my forehead. “What about it?”
“The fact we’re going,” I said sarcastically.
The Gasman pouted, with his big blue eyes fixed on my face. “Please, Max?” he begged. “Your mom said we could go if you said it was okay.”
I love how my mother leaves ordering the flock around to me despite the fact I am now a mom.
Silence squirmed and grunted unhappily, and I took him from Fang’s loving arms and held him against my shoulder. “Who’s Momma’s boy, huh? Syyye…lenccce?” Silence!?” I held him so I could see his beautiful face light up at the sound of my voice.
Angel and Gazzy grinned when I looked at them, momentarily forgetting our conflict. “Where’s Gazzy?” the Gasman asked, standing next to me and stroking Silence’s thin black hair.
Sye’s head swiveled to look at Gazzy and he pointed at him. “Yeah!” Angel said, giggling.
Silence grinned his toothless grin.
Fang’s arms encircled us. “Where’s Daddy?” he asked in that voice only meant for dogs and small children. “Where’s Daddy?”
Silence grabbed a lock of Fang’s matching hair. “Gaaaw…” Silence gurgled for “Daw”. It was the farthest we’d gotten to “Daw-Daw”.
Fang grinned and took his mini-me out of my arms and held him in the air. “Up-bah!”
I was so engrossed watching my son and his father play that I didn’t notice the Gasman chanting my name over and over and over again. “Max Max Max Maxmaxmaxmax…?” he asked again, tugging at my arm.
“Yes?” I finally responded.
Angel jumped up and down hugging herself. “Yay! Thanks, Max!”
Then she and the Gasman ran out yelling for Nudge.
I groaned and leaned back on the bed, listening to Silence’s innocent laugh in comparison to Fang’s deep one. “The zoo it is,” Fang said.

“Max! Monkeys!” Angel grabbed my arm and yanked me one way towards a bunch of shrieking kids in front of a glass exhibit.
Fang followed me slowly, reading a map awkwardly with Silence slung across his chest in a Snugli grabbing at the paper. He looks so funny with the squirming baby and the Diaper Utility Belt (as we’ve so lovingly named the belt Iggy and the Gasman rigged for such an occasion. Much more convenient for both flying and walking around.) (Like the one from The Pacifier that the army dude has?) I love Fang. He has so much patience. “Cut it out!” he said, trying to read over the baby’s flailing limbs.
Silence gurgled.
“Max, can we get ice cream?” Nudge asked. “I’m getting hot.”
“Max, Iggy and I are going to go look at the gazelle exhibit, okay? I have my phone on,” Ella said hand in hand with Iggy and walking away.
“Max, I want to see the bears,” the Gasman complained.
“Ug! Max, Silence just burped up all over the map and I can’t read a thi-” Fang started in an irritated tone.
“EVERYBODY SHUT UP!” I yelled, clutching my head, my face violently flushed.
Everyone stopped talking – even the people around us who we didn’t know – and they all looked at me with a “Oh, crap, she’s gonna blow” kind of look. Silence’s eyes crinkled and he started to pout, tears clouding his beautiful eyes, and goop dripping down his front. I reached over and unstrapped him from the Snugli. “Fang, do you have a wipe?” I asked calmly, cradling Silence in the crook of my arm.
Fang took a wipe out of his utility belt and handed it to me. I wiped Silence’s face and blue onesie, then cleaned off the Snugli. “Yeah, Nudgie, let’s all go get some ice cream. We all need to cool off.”
We all switched directions and headed for concessions. I brushed my lips against Silence’s temple, and then kissed him. Fang put his arm around me and kissed my head. “Tense?” he asked, smirking.
I bounced our son on my hip. “Just a little,” I breathed. “Why, what does it look like to you?”
He laughed a little. “You look positively pissed.”
I rolled my eyes. “Good,” I muttered, finding a picnic table and sitting down. “I’m going to strangle someone.”
Fang sat down on the same bench as me like it was a saddle and scooted really close so his legs touched me. He gave me a smug look and tried to take Silence out of my arms. I slapped his hand.
“Max; chocolate, vanilla, or twist?” Nudge asked, holding Angel’s hand and looking earnest.
I covered my eyes with my hand. “Oh…twist,” I decided out of random, looking up.
“Fang?”
“Chocolate,” he said without missing a beat. Of course. It’s dark, he’s dark. “Get a spoon for Sye, will you?”
She nodded. “Sure thing,” she said, then walked off with Angel and the Gasman.
Two old folks walked past our table and glanced at me and Fang, and our son, with a disgusted gawk. “Kids these days,” the man said. “Can’t keep their hands to themselves.”
I groaned and put my hand under my chin when they passed. “I hate crowded places,” I said to Fang, who stroked our son’s flawless olive cheek as he sat on my lap and reached for a lock of my hair. “Muh!”
“Shh…” I murmured in a laugh, my hand trailing down his cheek to his neck.
“He sympathizes,” Fang said, a smile in his eyes.
I gave him a half of a grin. “I love you, you know that?”
Fang’s hand extended and traced my cheek tenderly. He smiled. “Yeah,” he said, and then leaned forward a little and kissed me gently on the lips. Our baby squirmed between us and we pulled apart just as Nudge walked up with her hands full of ice cream cones.
“Grab-it-grab-itgrabitgrabit!” she said urgently as the cones started to slip.
Fang reached over the table and took our two cones from her and the spoon she promised Sye. He dipped it into his chocolate cone and offered it to his son.
Silence held the cold cream in his mouth for a moment, then figured out that you’re supposed to swallow it, which he did. He reached for Fang’s hand. “Muh…” he prattled. Fang spooned some more and put it in his mouth.
“Max, can we go see the bears?” the Gasman asked.
I reached out and fluffed up his mohawk that had long since grown out. “Sure,” I said. “Fang, you wanna go with them?”
Fang licked his chocolate cone again. “Yeah, you want me to take Sye?” one of his fingers reached out and twirled his son’s hair around it.
Silence looked up at me and pointed. “Daw…” he said, frowning.
I smiled. “Yeah, go ahead,” I said, handing Silence over to Fang, who handed him to Gazzy and strapped the Diper Belt on.
I handed him the Snugli. “You look like…like…Batman!”
Nudge licked her chocolate/vanilla twist cone. “Yeah, he’s even dressed in black and has a utility belt! All he needs now is a cape.”
I reached into the diaper bag and pulled out a blue blanket with puppies on it, just as Gazzy handed Sye to Fang and put him in the Snugli. I walzed up to Fang and tucked the cape into the back of his shirt. “There!” I said grinning.
Angel, the Gasman, and Nudge cracked up just as Iggy and Ella came into view. “Hey, guys, you should really see –” Ella started, then stopped. “What the h is Fang wearing!?”
I grinned. “It’s Diaper Man and his trusty side-kick: Drool Boy!”
Silence slobbered on his hand and touched it to Fang’s face. Fang scowled.
Then we all cracked up all over again. I clutched my stomach and fell to my knees laughing, as did many of the flock.
So the zoo wasn’t so bad.

Huuungryyy...!!! (>_<)

Okay, so I would have said that the recession is just bull, but it totally isn't. When people come to our house, they look at it and go, "Oh...you have such a pretty house. You must be rich."
Or at least they think that, but the point is that we don't have money. We literally live paycheck to paycheck, and we can't go get groceries until my dad gets paid on friday, but we already have no food in the house! I haven't even eaten breakfast, and don't plan to, because there's no foood! Not even pancakes!
The popcorn's even running low.
We have no bread, we have no butter, we have no salad, we're almost out of milk, we have nothing in the freezer, we have no frozen meat, we have no deli ham, we have nothing but noodles! And no sauce.
Yesterday I finished off the last of the cereal for breakfast, and then had noodles with the last of the sauce for lunch. I had a cup of plain noodles for dinner, and my mom gave my sister and I five dollars for Brunswick Zone so we could get dinner. Dinner! For five bucks!
So we got fries. Not even enough.

Another thing I hate is when I accidently oversleep until 11:00 in the morning. It drives me insane!

~Steph

Summer: So Far.

How's your summer been? Mine's been boring! Yeah! No joke!

Just kidding. I've been having a pretty fun summer, actually. TNL started up (Tuesday Night Live), I've raised $574 of my $1,100 dollars for Mexico, and I have some new friends named Beetle and Fang -- or Becca and Ashley.

If anyone's ever wondered about what I look like, here's some incentive:

Story of that picture: Christina told me to find a random sixth grader and sit down next to them: so I found one. :D

The kid's reaction: Bahaha, good times! That was the second to last day of school, can you believe that? It's been so long.

I have to wear skirts in mexico, isn't that crazy? A kid could die from that! And Caleb, Alex, and Anderson will make fun of me because they think it's weird I'd ever wear a skirt! And I'm like, HEY! I have worn dresses before! And skirts! And Steve pulled out of the Mexico trip, sad day! Oh, well, at least I have other guy friends going.

Anyway, I have to go call some guy 'cause he bid on my Silent Auction for babysitting. Golly wolly.

For now,

Steph

Leaving -- Yet Again :(

Okay, so last week I was in Lincoln, NE for a wedding my cousin was having. It was really, really nice! Like, like, like the ones in wedding magazines! It was totally INCREDIBLE!!
Anyway, we got back the day before yesterday, and we're leaving again today to get to Santa Fe, NM. We went there a few years ago and it was really pretty there. There's, like, a million art gallaries (which you know I'd LOVE!!) and the senery is spectacular.
So today I got up really early (8:00 am, which is early for me) to get all my junk put together. We "left" our emo dog Maggie at my grandma and grandpa's house in Lincoln (she's gonna come back with them next month when they come see us), and we brought Sabine, our weenie dog, over to Caleb's house, where she'll be staying for the week.
Oh! And something funny that happened while we were over at his house talking to his mom and himself;
Me: I don't think I could ever do poms.
Caleb's Mom (CM): I used to in high school. I could stand with my back to the wall and kick over my head and hit the wall I was backed up against.
Me: Wow. I can kick my face level, but that's it.
Caleb: Yeah, I can kick my face level, too.
Kristen: I can bring my foot up backwards and touch my head!
[WHUMP!!]
All Of Us: [look at Caleb, who is not flat on his back on the floor.] [Que histarical laughter from the rest of us.]
My Mom: [laughing hard] What were you doing?!
[Caleb winces and his mom grabs his arms to try and help him up.]
Caleb: I was trying to kick my face level, but I'm wearing new socks and I slipped! (on the wood floor.)
CM: Aw...honey, you're such a goofball.
Me: [can't stop laughing.] It's like trying to run up the wood stairs in socks at my house and falling on your face!

* * *

So that was my mild drama this morning. And now I will tell you how to make a really yummy sandwich.

Things you will need:

- Two slices of bread

- Deli turkey

- An apple

- Salad dressing of your choice

- Butter

- PAM

- A skillet

- An apple peeler

Directions: Put skillet on the stove (set on medium) to warm up. Put your apple through the apple peeler and then cut the apple in half. Take one half of the apple and set it aside. Put turkey on one the bread slices and then cut into fourths and set half of them aside. Now cut the other slice of bread into fourths and set aside. Divide the half of the peeled apple slices onto the turkey covered fourths of bread. To the untouched fourths of bread, apply your favorite salad dressing, and place on top of the other peices of bread. Now butter both sides of each tiny little sandwich. Spray PAM on the skillet, and grill the small sandwiches like a grilled-cheese-sandwich.

Searve warm with the other half of the apple on the side.

That's it!

~Steph

Last Days

Eighth grade was a good year. I mean, there were bumps and dips here and there, but still. Fun.

I didn't accomplish my goal this year, to finish my novel, but that's okay. I did some pretty worth-while stuff.
I had some difficult things, too.

Youth group was the best this year, by far! I can't imagine a place I would rather be -- ever. I love it more than being at home. I have some great friends there. Chris and Cathy are now some of my closer adult friends, along with Blacklock and Abby. I feel blessed that they're part of my life.
But I lost some pretty close friends, too. I don't know what happened.

Wishes, I Wrote a Poem Without Meaning To.

I'm trying to figure out...where did the years of friendship go? I've known you since I could talk. What happened?
I wish we could stay young, raging hormone battles never fought. It would make things so much easier -- simplify things.
I wish we could all be seven and eight years old again.
Play in the woods behind my house for countless hours while our parents eat grilled chicken on the deck.
I wish I could stand on the huge rock again with you, shouting at people to beware, or we'd hit them with sticks.
I wish we could sit on the hammock at your house again eating Otter Pops and giggling..
I wish we could have those family get-togethers at your house and play Catch-Phrase, while your brother coughs something about coffee.
I wish we could play with your pet bird, and laugh when he bit you.
I wish we could watch movies in your basement.
I wish we could have Easter egg hunts.
I wish you were still part of my family.
I wish we never got older, and I could play with you forever and ever.
I wish we could get lost in our imaginary world again and shut the real one out.
I wish you were still my buddy.
I wish you still had my back.
I wish we never got older.
I wish we never grew apart.

But no matter how much I want it, I won't get my wish.

So I must say goodbye.

Like, OW!

Okay, here's a tip for you all: DON'T TAKE UP CARVING. Unless you have someone watching you and giving you pointers. Remember a while back when I posted about my gaping flesh wound? Yeah, apparently not a flesh wound. Now I have an inflamed tendon from writing 'cause I nicked it with the knife. Also nerve damage. Ug. It even hurts to type! Ow, ow, ow.

If you're into it, could I get someone to pray for my hand so that it gets better? I can't write very well, or draw, or do simple things like, hey, playing my cello. Or piano? And I kind of need my hands to dig wells in Oaxaca. Heheh, problem.
So, yeah, if I could get someone to pray for me.
Oh, and if you happen to have any prayer requests, please let me know. I'd be happy to do so!
Later,
~Steph

The House. This is fun!

Pick 8 random friends you feel comfortable around. (Four girls, four guys -- include yourself)
1. Newman
2. Landrum
3. Caleb
4. Steve
5. Christina
6. Sara
7. Steph (me!)
8. Carli

These eight people you just picked are stuck in a house with you for a whole year. There is no leaving the house at all until the year is completely up. If you had to choose a person for every question below, write down which person it would be.

There are four rooms, who would be in each room?
1. Steph and Carli
2. Christina and Sara
3. Newman and Landrum
4. Caleb and Steve

If there was someone singing in the morning who would it most likely be?
XD Me and Sara!

If someone was considered the dad and the mom of the house, who would it be?
Most mature girl in the house: Sara.
Most mature guy in the house: Steve.
There you go.

If you wanted candy really badly and all of the 7 in the house had some, who would you take it from?
Carli, she always has candy! That's what she's made out of!

If two people were caught making out in a closet who would it be?
XDXDXDXDXD Newman and Christina! *runs away fast!* Hahahah!!

If someone had to watch you brush your teeth (every) morning, who would it be?
It would be Christina because she randomly HAS to do things because that's just what she does. It's like OCD, or something...

There was two bags of chips bought at the store, but 20 minutes later they are gone. Who ate them?
Steve and Caleb. Darn those boys. Tsk tsk.

Who would hate being in the house the most?
Steve and Carli. Steve because he's not a people person, and Carli because she hates Landrum and Newman.

Someone took (brand spanking new) pair of socks that were never worn, who is the thief?
CHRISTINA GET BACK HERE WITH THOSE SOCKS!!

Someone swept all the dirt under the rug, who was it?
Newman. He's so spankin' messy!

If there was arguments in the house, who would be the ones arguing?
Everyone and Newman. Or me and Christina.

Who would be the one missing there boyfriend/girlfriend that wasn’t in the house with them?
Sigh, Carli.

You walked down stairs in the middle of the night for a glass of water, someone is dancing on the table in there Leopard Thong, who is the crazy one?
Probably Caleb. Although that is a horrible, horrible visual.

A pillow fight broke through, who started it?
Christina and Newman.

Theres a marathon of your favorite tv show, what is it? and who would be watching it with you? "ER"! And maybe Steve and Sara. Possibly Newman, and Landrum would be off Googling "Math" or something...

Someone made a fort in the laundry room, who was the kid?
Newman, Me, Christina, Carli. Steve and Caleb would be making a military base in the garage or something.

There’s a prankster in the house that put plastic on the two toilets in the house, who are the pranksters? Newman and Carli.

The musics too loud, who turned it up? ME!!

Theres a mouse crawling on the floor all over the house,
a) who is the first one to scream? -- Sara or Christina
b) and who is the one to jump is someones arms? Christina
c) Who would be the one to kill it? -- Me or Steve.

Someones crying, who is it and what happened? Newman's having a bi-polar breakdown.

Who made pancakes in the morning and almost caught the house on fire? Christina. .:*snickers*:.

Who gets sick of each other the fastest in the house? Carli and Newman. Carli once had to leave a party because Newman was there!

Someones tanning on the roof who is it? It would TOTALLY be me!

Who is the tallest in the house? Caleb.

Who is the shortest in the house? Christina.

Who is the loudest? Definantly Newman. Without even thinking, that's the answer.

Who is the clown? Hm. Me and Caleb. Watching him dance to techno subconsiously is pretty freaking hilarious (okay, that was one time, and I don't think he knew I saw him).
And I'm just a scream, so I dunno.

Who is the one you go to talk to the most? Uh...Sara or Newman.

Who is the one that always comes up with stupid ideas? Well, Steve was known to set gasoline on fire in the sandbox and behead all the pastic knight figurines...but Newman does the dumbest things...

Who's in bed first? Carli. She's trying to excape Newman.

If someone woke everyone up with pots and pans who would it be? Newman and Christina.

Is always dancing? Uh...brain fart, I can't think! Probably Caleb, 'cause he's always tapping and tapping away to things.

Someone has the same sweater as you, so you get mad at them and who is it? It was TOTALLY Carli! She and I always wore the same t-shirt on the same day last year!

You spilt ice all over the kitchen floor, who would be the one to slip on it first?
Well, here's what would happen: Christina would walk into the room, and then fall down, and then Newman would run down the hall screaming that she's gonna die, so Steve comes out of his room to see what's up, so Caleb follows him, and then they all end up on the kitchen floor not terribly happy with me.

That was really fun! You all try it now!

Cool Stuff

I made this today in the Mexico Meeting. We're making these really cool cross necklaces made out of nails and wire to sell for, like, twenty bucks each. This one's mine, and I put it in the Mexican Flag colors, but it's cool, right? You can get them in a bunch of different colors, so Newman? CT? Sara? Anyone else who knows me personally can get one if they want, 'cause they're really freaking cool. But all the money we make goes to the Oaxaca trip. Should we go. There's a little problem with the Swine Flu, so if it doesn't improve at all by the end of the month, we're gonna pick a different destination.

~Steph

Mexico on the Horizon

:D Yay! I'm on my way to getting to go to Oaxaca this summer!
Last night, I spend, what? Like, four hours writing and adressing ten support letters to some families that I know from church and my extended reletives. Hopefully someone will send me money so I can lighten my dept of $1,150. It kinda costs a lot for the transportation to even get to Oaxaca, and then the bus to get to Tlaxiaco, a small village in the mountains. It's in Southern Mexico.
Apparently, Tlaxiaco isn't your typical Mexico vacation. It's cold. You do not want to bring only shorts and t-shirts, because you will freeze.
From what my sister said about it last year, this is going to be a blast. And a lot of my friends are going (including Porpoise and EmoSqueeesh). This could be interesting.
And apparently, one year, Josh Chang jumped off the railing at the Base and onto a van. And then Kelsey freaked out because she was like 'youth group Mommy' until she graduated and went off to college.
I have to go now, I have church and after that, Mexico Meeting.
More on this later,
Steph

Vahaha! Zeee Reeeturn of Seeenor EmoSqueeesh!

And all from a chat that Christina and Newman and I had...

Christina has joined
Michael: Plz! Yay
And I'm not dead
Christina: well thats good!!
6:50 PM
Michael: Did I freak u out
me: hallalujah
Christina: just a little bit
Michael: ?
Did I ?
me: nope. not a winkle.
Christina: ya freaked me out
6:51 PM
me: of course, YOU.
Christina: ...
Michael: Hehe...I wasn't gonna not go 2 school on tuesday
Christina: ...
6:52 PM
Michael: To add 2 the freaking u out
me: gee, thanks.
6:53 PM
EXACTLY WHAT I NEED.
Michael: :)
a dead friend
A emo crush
me: garr.
i'm gonna strangle you.
Christina: DO IT STEPH!!
me: I WILL
6:54 PM
Michael: Lol
me: okay, when you said "emo crush" i totally imagined a little emo kid going squish!
Christina: hahahahahahahahahahaha
6:57 PM
me: dun dun dun...
Christina: !
Michael: Lol
me: he hasn't text back
jaws theme plays
Christina: grr
6:58 PM
me: why are you 'grr' ing?
Michael: Lol
me: wait a second, she just DOES that from time to time, doesn't she?
Christina: ...
6:59 PM
yep!!!!
Michael: Ya
me: did she just choke on something?
Michael: And then she bites u
me: maybe a crushed emo?
Michael: :)
Lol!
Christina: thats too much!!!!!
me: maybe un-barfed chocolates?
Christina: hahaha
7:00 PM
like her hair!!!
Michael: Lol
me: the whole of New Hampshire?
Michael: ?
Christina: !!!!
me: Steph's horribly ancient computer?
Michael: XD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lol
me: Steph's horribly ancient iPod?
Christina: OMG
me: WHY DO YOU HAVE MY IPOD, CRETIN??
7:01 PM
yanks out of Christina's throat
Michael: ?
me: THAT'S MINE!!
Michael: What in goshs name?
Christina: gags
me: gosh?
haha i just got it
i'm so dumb...
Michael: Wow
Christina: woooow
brb
Michael: Ya
Kk
7:03 PM
me: I've got it.
She was hanging out with Rrrrroberrrrto Lindeen and they were eating un-barfed chocolates and Rrrrroberrrrto got mad at Christina while she was eating these un-barfed chocolates and he punched her. So she started choking, and he started swearing at her in Spanish, but she wasn't dying yet, so he grabbed a dinner plate and smashed it over her head.
7:04 PM
...
i just freaked myself out a bit.
Michael has left
Michael has joined
Michael: Ya
Christina: o...m...g...
Michael: Ur a nutcase
7:05 PM
me: Hm...maybe pistachio.
I'm a pistachio case.
Michael: XD niceeeeee
me: You, however, niwat, are a Picancase.
Christina: ....
7:06 PM
Michael: Wow
Christina: dies laughing
me: WHY DO YOU FIND ME SO INSANELY FUNNY?? THAT WAS NOT FUNNY!!
Michael: Yes it was
I'm laughing 2 XD
7:07 PM
me: Oh, i see how it is. Now you're just gonna sit * sniff * around and * snort * laugh at the pistachiocase! You guys are great friends. Excuse me while i wipe my eyes with EmoSquish.
Michael: Thank u..snickers at himslef
Hahahhahahha! Lol!
7:08 PM Lamo!
Lmao*
No, that desevers a rotflmfao
me: Maybe we'll go and drink some rat poisening while we're at it! C'MON EMOSQUISH!!
7:09 PM
whaps JP with EmoSquish's squashed hand
Michael: Lol
me: THAT'S WHAT YOU GET JP!!!
7:10 PM
...
wow. i scare myself.
Michael: And I did drink rat posion But its a acholic drink
me: inhales EmoSquish and gets high
Michael: I had a sip of my parents
Wow
7:11 PM
U've lost all small bit of insanity
me: No, i've severed all ties with reality. wipes eyes
Michael: Allow me to join u
me: it's just so...so...HARD sometimes! so hard. maybe i'll go join the monkeys on the bed.
...
Michael: -grabs razor- -cuts himself- YE HAW!
7:12 PM
Eshabalaba daga balaba
me: NO! BAD EMO! squishes with thumb
Michael: Hey! -cuts steph-
Christina: DO NOT GET BLOOD ON THE RUG!!
me: bleeds all over the rug anyway
Michael: To late!
me: HE HIT AN ARTARY!!
7:13 PM
Michael: -cuts tina-
me: I'M GONNA BLEED OUT!!
Michael: Opps
Bye steph
me: x_X
Michael: We might miss u
me: is pronounced dead on sight
Michael: Probally not
Opps
Christina: WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WITH THE BODY?!
me: twitch twitch
Michael: Eat it!
7:14 PM
-grabs hand-
-eats it-
me: twitch GASP AAAAIIIRRR!!!!
Michael: Yum!
Christina: she doesnt taste good.
me: CANIBALS! I'M BEING EATEN BY CANNIBALS!!!
Michael: -cuts both of stephs wrists.i
me: HOLY CRAP! HOLY CRAP! AND I'M BLEEDING! ALL OVER THE RUG HOLY CRAP
Christina: the blood
Michael: -shoots-
shut up!
7:15 PM
Be dead!
So we can eat in pease
me: bleah
X_x
Michael: The blood tastes good
Cause I'm a vampire
Rawr
me: i am not enjoying listening to this
Christina: ew. dont eat the hair.
me: SAVE ME, EMOSQUIISH!
EmoSquish to the rescue!
Michael: Lol
me: Kills everyone
Michael: Eats emo sqwish
7:16 PM
Hah
Plan failed!
me: lights candle it's dark in here!
Christina: who BIT ME?!
Michael: Lol... AH! STOMACH BURNING
me: It's Spiffy and Pooky!
Michael: RUNS AROUND LIKE A MAD MAN
Ahhhh!
me: RUN FOR YOUR LIIIIIVVVEEEESSSSS
7:17 PM
Michael: Eats fire estingishure
Lol
me: is still dead on the floor
Michael: We should burn her
me: !!!
no!
BAD IDEA
Christina: good plan!!
Michael: And then eat the ashs
Christina: lets do it!!!
me: at least i'm going to heaven...
Michael: -covers in gas-
7:18 PM
me: EmoSquish RIPPS himself out of niwat's tummy!
Michael: would u like to do the honnors?
SHUT UP DEAD BODY! UR DEAD
me: AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!
Michael: SHOTS EMO
No!
me: rises like a zombie
Christina: ahhhhh!!!
Michael: Covers in gas
Lites a match
me: you can't kill a zombie...
7:19 PM
Michael: Now u both burn!
Sets both on fire
Run tina! Run!
Christina: you now burn!!
me: i dont vurn. i'm a zombie
Michael: -runs-
me: Vun! Chrisvina! Vun!
Michael: AHHHHHHH
me: I VAM A VAAAAMPIIIIRE!!!
Michael: Well
7:20 PM
me: VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
Michael: I'm a va,pire
me: <=many fangs of doom
Michael: Not u dangit! Lol
me: :K
Michael: Brb..gotta call ryan
me: ug. right when it's getting really interesting. i'm soooo posting this on my blog
Christina: what a loser
7:21 PM
im putting it on facebook me: I HAVE TO PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Christina: me too.
brb
7:23 PM
Michael: Me 2...but I'm stuck in a car
me: VAHAHA! zee reeturn of seeenor eeemo-squeeesh EMOSQUEEESH!!
7:24 PM
Christina: !!
Michael: :-/ Uggggggg
me: hahaha
7:25 PM
Michael: No... -shots with only zombie killing gun- BAD EMO SQUISH!
Christina: kill 'im!!
7:26 PM
me: NO!!!!!!!!
Christina: YES!!!
Michael has left
Michael has joined
me: DON'T KILL EMOSQUEEESH!!
Christina: kill him!! now!!
Michael: TO LATE
7:27 PM
Christina: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Michael: HE'S GONE HE'S ALLREADY DEAD MUHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
me: :(
Christina: YESSSSSSSSSSSSS!! haha! M
ichael: -hi5 tina!-
7:28 PM
me: christina! remember who we're killing :(
Christina: ... oh dear thats a problem now isnt it?
me: yeah, sad day. don't tell niwat.
Christina: i shall not tell niwat.
7:29 PM
me: gracias. and EmoSqueeesh could TOTALLY kill Niwat.
Christina: yeah he could
Michael has left
7:30 PM
Michael has joined
me: XD i just drew EmoSqueeesh.
Christina: wonderful
Michael: Wow
We killed the person steph likes.
Oops
me: EMOSQUEEESH
7:31 PM
what about the person I like?
Christina: what are you saying, Niwat?
Michael: Person Steph likes=EmoSquish
I read everything u said
7:32 PM
About not telling me
me: ? that's irritating.
Michael: ;)
Christina: i think you're crazy. 7:33 PM AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 *!
Michael: Lol
me: and it's EmoSqueeesh.
With three 'e's.
Christina: THREE EEEEEEEEE'SSSS
7:34 PM
remember that. now im just freaking myself out.
7:35 PM
Michael: Lol
me: wow. i'm gonna scan EmoSqueeesh and post him on my blog. it's pretty funny.

I Hope to Start Something

Okay, anyone else wanna post their baby pics? Whenever there's a older girl and a younger girl, that's me (the younger one) and Kristen (the older one). The one with me and a boy...well, that's my cousin who now looks like the guy who played Edward in Twilight. Hahaha, we tease him about it.

Good Book: Thr3e by Ted Dekker

"Kevin Parson is alone in his car when his cell phone rings. A man calling himself Slater offers a deadly ultimatum: You have exactly three minutes to confess your sin to the world. Refuse, and the car you're driving will blow sky hight. Then the phone goes dead.
Kevin panics. Who would make such a demand? What sin? Yet not sure what else to do, Kevin swerves into the parking lot and runs from his car. Just in case.
Precisely three minutes later, a massive explosion sets his world on a collision course with madness. And that's only the first move in this deadly game."

Three riddles. The first, three minutes. The second, thirty. The third, sixty. No cops. One bomb on bus 3, Third street.

Thr3e

Okay, So Big Snowstorm

Doesn't the guy in this picture look like Fang? His name's Sosuke Sagara, and the girl behind him is Kanamah Chidori. Squee!
Today I woke up at eleven and it was snowing. Hard. So I went downstairs and got on the computer, doing my usual rounds on the downstairs internet connection.

Then I went upstairs again and made myself some pancakes and scrambled eggs because I was really hungry...and it was still snowing. Harder.

I thought that was kind of strange, so I went back downstairs and roleplayed for about three hours before I got bored and went to get my dad's laptop. It was still snowing. I couldn't see the shed. Heck, I couldn't see the freaking road.

Then I went up to my room with my hyjacked laptop and watched Full Metal Panic episodes until about an hour ago. And it's still snowing.

My brother's friend got to sleep over and extra night because of the weather, and they're in the other room giggling about who knows what and whispering like fifth grade girls.

Anyway, just thought I'd let EVERYONE know how uneventful my day was. I hope you had fun hearing it.

~Steph

Will Starve For Food.

30 Hour Famine! ==> link

I'm not gonna eat anything from 10:00 am on Friday to 4:00 pm on Saturday.

Join the club,

Be Hungry.

~Steph

So I've Started Drawing Anime

Yeah, recently i've started drawing anime. So this is Seth in anime version. And holy crap, this is only the beginning.

The Lime Has Landed.

Okay. So my brother, Limer, is now in the wonderful world of blogger. Yes, people, we are expanding. Bear with us.
So, little Danny Limer is a hilarious kid who hasn't really gotten anywhere, but let's all make him feel welcome! Welcome Limer!!
Visit him at http://limerd.blogspot.com

Bookmarks for All You Seth, Jenn, and Flashman Fans!

Click to enlarge, copy and paste on MS Paint to print...or whatever you can use to print it off. I made them while I was really tired last night at one-0-clock. XD

Seth's Life Is Now In Grave Danger (or, okay, the 'delete' button)

Since nobody reads my writing blog, I'm shutting it down. If you have a problem with this, maybe try commenting every so often.

Geez, people.

~Steph

This is Curt.

I spent five and a half hours working on him. But isn't he cool?

In the Spirit of Infants...

Asher! (see below)

Okay, so this week my school's doing the baby project for all the eighth graders. Mine is a boy and his name is Asher Isaiah. Sara named her Pomagranate (??).

So in the spirit of infants, I thought I'd share this disterbing fact with you. There was a baby born to a 13 year old (Alfie Patten) and his 15 year old girlfriend. HOW FREAKISH IS THAT???

Look, he's baby-faced, his voice hasn't broke, he's the definition of a kid, and look, for yourself...

...that he looks like the kid's older brother. Is it nasty that a kid could even get a girlfriend and have sex at 13?? Holy crow. He looks like he's nine.

My sister said that even though she was 15 and he was 13, her mom still let him spend the night.

See, there's him again. Bad influence? Yes. Here's the caption for that photo: "How does Alfie feel about all of this? Devastated! He agreed to take a DNA test, and according to the Sun, earlier this week he expressed his anger by wearing a hoodie displaying the message, "I'm the daddy, if not f**k you all I'll still be there." (I hate to pass judgment, but who lets their kid wear something like this?)"
So, yeah. Awkward.

~Steph

Links to learn more: 1, 2, 3, 4

Ginny's baby, Hannah's baby, and my baby

*trip!* ...www...oah... *wobble*

Okay, so today during Social Studies, I had the weirdest sensation. I was dizzy and I couldn't feel my legs. Ever been that lightheaded? It was like I was floating. So I endured the block period and during Science I told Ms. Haney that I needed to go down to the office because I was gonna fall over any second. And she tells me to fill out my planner. Who tells a kid who's as dizzy as a dodo to fill out their planner so they can go to the nurse?
Anyway.
So I get down to the office (without tripping down the stairs!) and tell the lady at the desk that I feel dizzy, so she sends me to go sit in the nurse's office. And then the nurse somehow knows my name and is like, "Stephany...and you're feeling dizzy?"
Nod.
"Here, I'll get you a drink of water," she says, and fills a Dixie cup full of water and gives it to the guy sitting next to me.
Then later she asks me if that water helped and was like, "Wait, did I get you water? Who did I give water to?"
The boy raises his hand, and the nurse gets me a Dixie cup and I down it in small sips. She asks me if I'm feeling better now. I shake my head. So she tells me to call my mom. I do. Then she gets a phone call that her own child at an elementary school is sick and needs to go home.
So I wait for my mom to get there for twenty minutes while watching the clock with great interest. Then Kristina's mom comes in and asks me if i'm feeling okay. I tell her that I feel dizzy and my mom's coming to get me.
Then when my mom finally shows up, i grab my backpack and almost fall over, then regain my balence, and walk out with her.
Then we had to go to the grocery store and my mom takes half an hour while I wait in the car because the computers were having technical issues. I read my Maximum Ride in Manga. Then I read the Authors note. Then I read the fifth book preview. Then I start to read it again. Then I get bored and recline my seat so that I can lay down. Then I get hungry and get some banana bread out of my backpack and start to eat it. Then my mom shows up.
We go home, and I go downstairs and watch The Lion King with my sick brother who has the same thing as I do. After that, I go on facebook and make a character on Pet Society named Scar. And then Daniel wants me to watch Homeward Bound with him, so we do that, and then we watch CyberChase for lack of anything better to do.
Then I'm so hungry I feel like puking, but I don't have anything in my stomach, so I can't puke, so I just sit on the couch and start reading the Maximum Ride Manga thing again, and then I go back downstairs and talk to my elementary best friend, Lily, and she tells me that Mrs. Terpstra died of breast cancer. Mrs. Terpstra taught me long devision and was my friend. :(

So yeah, not the best day I've ever had.

And on top of it all, I can't go to Youth Group tonight! Waaahhh!!!

Seth's blog has 24 followers. Huh.

~Steph

I...Yeah. I've Been Tagged

I got tagged by Ruby, and now i have to share 14 things about myself, because I am 14 years old (in, like, two weeks).

1. I have three facebook accounts, three emails, and i contribute to five blogs.

2. I'm writing a novel. Currently it's called "Yours to Hold" because taht was my favorite song at the time I started writing it.

3. I type really fast.

4. I'm watching ER, and it's my absolute favorite show. And it's ending this season. :(

5. I know for a fact that Seth and Jenn aren't going out. They're...i don't know how to say it. Um...something between 'crush' and 'in love'.

6. I'm part Cherokee Indian

7. I'm going snowboarding on Saturday with a bunch of guys.

8. I don't like the Jonas Brothers.

9. My favorite band is Skillet. My favorite song is "Everyone Like Me" by Thousand Foot Krutch".

10. My sister is waiting to kick me off the laptop. I don't want off.

11. I have a younger brother, Daniel, and an older sister, Kristen.

12. AND TWO MOMS NAMED KAREN AND LEIGH!!! XD not really. Inside joke.

13. I'm tired.

14. I like clay.

There, I'm done.

Fang is so Dumb.

Just click on it to make it bigger. It's hilarious. I drew it in math because my student teacher is boring. XP

!!!! Hopefully this week goes really fast because I'm going on a Youth Group ski and snowboard trip! And I'm the only girl skiing, so get to spend the day with the guys. :( Oh well, at least Chris and Caleb are there to keep me entertained. AND HOPEFULLY MY BACK DOESN'T GIVE OUT LIKE IT DID LAST WEEK!! That would suck.

~Steph

OKAY. Sit Tight. We'll Get Through This...

I lost my jump drive. Again. Just sit tight until i find it and we'll all be okay.

In the meantime, i can't write at all. So, yeah.

Questions You MUST Answer!

1. Do you read my writing blog?
2. Why don't you?
3. Do you know who Seth is?
4. Are you aware he's not real?
5. Do you read his blog?
6. Do you think Michael needs to get some serious help?
7. Jenn + Seth? (Jeth?)

I NEED TO KNOW THESE ANSWERS!! Thanks for your understanding! Please comment your answers in numerical order.

~Steph

Hehe, I'm Not Cheating...*rocks back and forth on heals*

Okay, for anyone who's being an idiot like me for that science project we have to do at my school (if you go to it) and not filling out that ten-day-weather-sheet-thing, here's a cheat site. It's amazing and I used it because I was being a moron and hadn't filled it out until today.

We went skiing this weekend (and I snowboarded) and my back really hurts now. Waaah.

~Steph

The Reason...

This is the reason that "Everyone Like Me" by TFK reminds me of Maximum Ride. Every time.



And if you've never seen this video, man you're missing out.

The Geese and England (and some Corr)

Okay, today we were in health class learning about the 'Miracle of Life' when Mr. Corr realized that there was a big flock of geese on the soccer field. Last week he was joking about sending a kid after them someday and just freaking them out.

Well today, Andrew England (short, blond-haired, blue-eyed kid with freckles) was more hyper than usual.

Mr. Corr's like, "Oh, look, there's a big flock of geese on the soccer field. Oh...God, I should send some kid out there an be like BLEH! on them," he says, spreading his arms like a monster at the 'blah' part. "Heh heh heh."

Andrew's like, "AH! CAN I GO AFTER THEM? PLEASE? I've had a brownie and three tick-tacks, can I go scare them?! Please, Corr?!"

Mr. Corr looks at us for a second and says in a hushed voice. "Okay, this is what we're gonna do. Roakker, you hold go with England and let him back in."

So Andrew and Roakker take off towards the athletic doors and the rest of the class watches from the window as little Andrew England runs out and goes straight through the flock and it spreads like the Red Sea. And we laugh like crazy when the whole flock freaks out and flies away.

Priceless. Priceless.

Mr. Corr said that you can grow human ears on the back of mice (like on Fang's blog) and put them on burn victims! Ew! But so cool! There's this guy in my Karate who's missing an ear due to a fire. It used to be gross, but now it's okay 'cause I've known him for a while.

Question: Seth + Jenn?

Comment.

23

Nothing Better.

So yesterday, Kristen and I were really bored, so we grabbed a bunch of stuff for tea and made some while watching Phantom of the Opera in the basement kitchen. It was sweet. And then we decided we wanted to make some potato chips, so we brought down a bunch of crap downstairs to fry potatoes and the were addicting. You have no idea how good homemade fried stuff is. YUM!!

Wow. My brother is so fifth grader. He's in the other room watching videos about daschounds on YouTube. Weird. Oh-kay.

Then I stayed up till one-thirty reading Fanfiction. Fun, fun, fun! And I got up at twelve today and read more Fanfiction, then went and got my hairs cut (because they don't just cut one hair. duh). And then my sister wanted to go look at CCU (Colorado Christian University) because she was thinking about going to school there after high school. It's a pretty cool campus. Small. Tidy. Just don't leave your socks laying around and you're golden. XD

And now I'm getting some crap about writing something about bombs on Seth's blog when I said that none of this was real! It's all in a novel I'm writing! Seth doesn't exist, people! Get the picture? Here's a link if you have no idea what i'm talking about.

And sorry about not writing more Fanfiction. I'm having writer's block!

Nobama,

~Steph

Okay, What the Crap?

What's this? I spend, like, forever typing out a chapter and I get TWO COMMENTS. TWO COMMENTS. Really, people?

The Other Half of Chapter 11 of My Fanfiction

Noooo!!! Obama's President!!! I'm gonna cryyyy!!!! *bawls*

But I found my jump drive in my Dad's car. No idea how it got there...but yeah.

-------------------------------------------------

Max POV

It was snowing and it was pretty cold. Mom made us all put on coats and take flashlights to go look for him. Angel stayed close to me and held my hand as we swept yet another street with flashlights calling out Total’s name. Angel started to cry, so Fang picked her up and held her as we kept searching.
The bad thing about Total being a talking dog is that we can’t just go to the Dumb Friends League and pick up a beagle. No. We have to get Total back. And if he dies, it will feel like a flock member dying.
“Fang? Maybe we should go in and call it a day,” I suggested, shivering.
Angel had fallen asleep over his shoulder with her face pressed into his neck. His neck was frosted over a bit from where he’d been crying on him.
“Maybe,” was all Fang said.
Just then, we heard the Gasman screech, “Total!”
Iggy with Ella, and Nudge ran over to where his voice was heard. Fang looked at me and hugged Angel closer, and we walked over too.
Before we reached it, Iggy turned back to us with a little frozen heap of black fur. I whimpered. “He’s not breathing, but he might have a chance because he’s frozen,” Iggy said. “Let’s get him back to your mom, Max.”
We all quickened our pace and headed back to the house.

“Mom? Mom!?” Ella yelled into the house. “We found him, but I—we think he’s dead.”
Dr. Martinez ran and grabbed her stuff. “Get him on the kitchen table on a clean towel,” she instructed, “I need to get something.”
Iggy set him on the table. Angel was awake now, and she sat at one of the chairs stroking his ice-crusted fur. “It’s gonna be okay, Total,” she told him.
I don’t know where my mother got electric paddles, but she brought them in. “Someone start chest compressions on him, try and get his heart started,” she instructed, hooking up the electrical cords.
“Oh, God,” Nudge moaned as Iggy started pressing his hands on the dog’s chest and leaning in and off.
“No change,” he said, when he stopped and listened to the Total’s heart.
Okaaay…
“Clear,” Dr. Martinez said, coming for him with the paddles and pressing them down.
Total flopped limply on the table as electricity overwhelmed his body.
No change.
Dr. Martinez tried again. “Clear.”
No change. Angel’s mouth curved down severely, threatening another outburst of tears. I gathered her in my arms and she wept into my chest.

I FOUND MY JUMP DRIVE!!! *hugs*

YES! YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!VYES!YES!

Okay. Sorry, i'm just really, really happy i didn't just loose all my writing. *whew*

So, um, new chapter on my writing blog! Here's the Link. You didn't know I had a writing blog? Wow. Unobservant much? Hahaha. Just kidding.

Oh, and I can't stress how important it is to comment because it makes me feel special and all warm and fuzzy.

~Steph

DANG IT.

I think I lost my jump drive. At the movie theatre. Like, yesterday, Steve and Caleb called me and asked if Kristen and I wanted to go to the movies with them because they were bored, so we went and saw Yes Man at 3:30. We got our Icees and sat down, and I think my drive was in my pocket and fell out.

DANG IT DANG IT DANG IT DANG IT DAAANGGG IIIT!!!

I am SOOO mad.

But then the funny part about going with them was that they thought we had a ride, so when we went to the bathroom, they started walking back to Steve's house, so when we got out, they were gone. So Kristen and I thought they might be in the bathroom, so we sat at a bench and waited.

...and waited.

...and waited.

and they eventually didn't show up so we called Steve's mom to see if she had Caleb's cell phone number (because I don't have it) and she asked if we needed a ride to her house ('cause that's where we were originally planning). So we said we did, and she came to pick us up right as Dad called back (we'd called him a million times), and he told us he was picking. us. up.
and he sounded really scary, too.

But apparently Caleb and Steve got yelled at by Steve's mom because she's really protective of girls (and especially us because she's known us since we were little and she has three sons). It was all really sad.

but so, so, funny.

Gazelles!!

Link One : Gazelle Status...FAIL
Link Two : Gazelle Status...FAIL.
Link Three: Gazelle status...FAIL. <==this one's the best!

lesson learned, GAZELLES ALWAYS FAIL. NEVER TRUST A GAZELLE!!

And then there's: Link Four, where the Gazelle does not fail!

Hehehe.

Okay, so I'm at school, and I really shouldn't be on here, but who cares? We should be working on "The Amazing Adventures of Squidgemous Nomenclature" but I really can't do anything unless Ginny finishes her part.
So I just took the extra laptop and I'm sitting in the back of the science room goofing off [in my mind] and doing nothing productive.

Hey, but i look like I am! I keep pulling up the document from the dock every time she circles around.

It's pretty funny and I'm so getting in huge trouble if she catches me because she is EVIL. Almost as bad as Anne Walker. Almost.

So i'm thinking about just writing more Fanfiction as I'm waiting here doing evil and trying to stay out of trouble. And Ginny's sitting next to me on her laptop writing--HEY, GINNY GET TO WORK! She's actually reading my fanfiction.

So yeah. Ug! 40 minutes until lunch! I am going to DIE.

~Steph

Chapter 11

Ug. My back hurts so bad today. And it did yesterday too. And the day before. And the day before.

Huh. I guess we could say my back SUCKS. I HATE MY BAAACK!!! I can't even do Karate this month because it hurts to stand up. Okay, hands up if you think i'm a cripple? Huh. Wow.

And sorry I haven't been posting. A girl has homework, you know? I had to do my book response thing, and i didn't sticky note my book, so kinda sucky. But i'm done with it now. *claps hands*

ah--ooo!

Okay, so poll results:

Max have a baby? It was close. 52% said yes, 48% said no. I figured i'd post it as a seperate story.

Number? 31% said twins, 52% said one, and 15% said triplets (NOT GONNA HAPPEN)

Name? Falcon: 10%, Spade: 26%, Nick: 21%, Hawk: 10%, Spade Falcon: 21%, Nick Spade: 10%. So we're going with Spade. Or Spade Falcon.

AH-OO!


------------------------------------

“Okay, all of you sit,” Max’s mom ordered, sounding utterly ticked off.
We all sat down on the opposite side of the table obediently. I slouched and crossed my arms over my black sweatshirt.
Dr. Martinez paced the area behind the table. “What do you boys think you’re doing? This is ridicules! Especially you, Iggy. I expected more out of you! Now you’re trying to seduce my thirteen-year-old daughter into doing the wrong things?” she paused angrily. “I mean, what is your problem?”
Iggy looked a bit shocked. “Well, um…see, she had a boyfriend, or so she told us, and so I didn’t think you would mind this sort of thing…”
“Mind?” Dr. Martinez hissed, “MIND?”
I was kinda angry now. “Doc!” I barked. “Calm down! It was just a kiss. Come on! It’s not like we were doing…,” I paused awkwardly, “…something else.”
We were silent for awhile before the Gasman finally spoke up and said, “Something else?”
I looked at Dr. Martinez and she looked at the Gasman. “Gazzy, I think it’s time you learned about something…”
Oh, God, here it comes, I thought, tuning out. I focused on the conversation of the girls in the living room, from what I could hear over Gazzy’s lurching and Dr. Martinez’s droning on about the ‘Miracle of Life’. I knew it was over when the Gasman was groaning and freaking out yelling, “Oh, my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh. GOD. EW!”
Is there anything that nine-year-old boys do not find gross?
“Fang, Iggy,” Max’s mom got our attention by snapping her fingers loudly at us. “Please understand me when I say I do not want any grandchildren any time soon.”
We nodded.
“OH MY GOD EEE-YEEEWWW!!” Gazzy was still moaning and yelling and carrying on.
Iggy stood up and started walking out of the room, running into an eavesdropping Nudge. “I WAS NOT LISTENING TO THAT CONVERSATION!” she claimed a little too loudly.
I got up and took her hand to help her to her feet. “Oh, we all believe you. C’mon, Nudge, go see Ella.”
She pouted. “I am not a dog.”
Angel walked up. “Speaking of which, have you guys seen Total anywhere? I can’t find him and I’m not picking up signals.”
I looked at her blue teary eyes. “I’m sorry, Ange, I haven’t seen him,” I said. “Did you ask Max?”
Wow. I hadn’t seen Total all day. Most of yesterday either. Not that I pay much attention to him anyway.
Angel shook her head woefully. “Yeah, she hasn’t seen him either. I’m afraid he went exploring and go hit by a—” she started to cry.
Iggy took the lead. “It’s okay, Ange, we’ll find him. You wanna come with me? I’ll help you look.”
Just then Max walked into the room pulling on a bright blue jacket. “We’ll all go.”
Angel hugged Iggy tightly and wept into his neck. “I’m so worried.”
“It’s gonna be okay,” he said soothingly, patting her back. “It’s gonna be okay.”

------------------------

so, um yeah.

MIRIAM!!!