Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Fireworks of Forgiveness: Part One

Hey, y'all! It's been a while since I've written a fiction story, so I thought it was about time. Part two will be posted tomorrow!
~*~

 Fireworks of Forgiveness
by ~Prism~

Grace adjusted the browning petals on her bouquet of roses and tried not to think of how much time she had spent here over the past week, mourning. Kneeling beside the grave of her precious little brother, all she could think about was the sudden explosion of light from the backyard and the hysterical screams that she didn't realize were hers until the medics told her to calm down. The hysteria was soon replaced by a strange numbness when they told her that little Joshua was dead.

And it was all her fault.

Grace knelt beside the small grave and kissed the headstone. Joshua would have turned seven last month, but all Hannah saw was his three-year-old cuteness.

"Oh, Josh, I love you."

Grace didn't stop the tears that fell as she laid her roses on the grave.

It was time to go back.

Grace's apartment was small, but it was home. As Grace sat on the old stairs near her house, she thought about dinner that night. Her family had eventually moved on and accepted her brother's death, but every time they looked at her, she felt that familiar stab of guilt. They probably hated her. The fact that she was invited to their get-together was probably out of duty. But she would go, out of duty.

Grace hesitantly rang the doorbell of her childhood house and heard the familiar chime. Oh, how good it would be if she could turn back time!

"Grace! Thanks for coming!" Grace's sister nearly tackled her with a hug when she opened the door.

"Hey, Bridgette." Grace smiled half-heartedly.

Just get into a quiet corner and stay there, she reminded herself. She wasn't about to make this evening more painful than it already was.

Just as she was sneaking over to the dark den, Drake, Grace's always-sensitive older brother, quietly came over to her and took her hand.

"Grace, welcome home. I've missed you."

She blinked back tears and nodded. "Where's mom and dad?"

He shrugged. "I guess they're out with the grill. That thing has been a nightmare today. But hey," he nudged her, "You should come sit with me and Molly tonight to watch the fireworks. You know how much the kids love their favorite aunt."

Kids. Fourth of July. Fireworks.

Grace grimaced and took a step away from Drake. "Thanks, but you should enjoy this holiday with your family. I don't want to get in the way."

Drake looked at her for a long moment before replying, "If you're sure. But never forget, little sister, you are family. We love you, no matter what."

Grace nodded, as she always did, but she felt herself pulling into the familiar shell. He didn't really mean it. He knows it's my fault. It's my fault Joshua isn't here.

It was then Grace decided she had to go.

"I'll see you around, then."

Drake kissed her forehead like he knew what she was thinking. "Goodbye, sis."

Grace drove. Her little car whined and creaked the whole way, but she didn't care. She drove out of habit, not of sight. The tears wouldn't let her. Like a zombie, she got out of her car and found herself in front of her family's church. The church she had not attended since the death of her brother. She looked up at the sky and sighed. It was dark enough; the fireworks would start soon.

After climbing up the stairs, Grace pushed the heavy oak doors open, just as the first firecracker exploded in the sky. All was quiet inside, as most of the congregation was gathered at Grace's family's house, near the waterfront.

Were they all celebrating? Or were they all thinking about what had happened this day, four years ago?

Grace sat heavily in one of the back pews and pulled her knees up to her chest. She heard her mother crying in her room like she did most nights, though she put on a brave face for her family. She saw the sad lines etched around her father's face. She saw her family huddled together the day of the funeral. She felt the hollowness that had followed the burial of a life too young to end.

She felt a hand on her shoulder.

Grace's eyes flew open and she yelped.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I just- well, you see... Ma'am, I can't let you stay here. The church is closed for the fireworks."

Grace turned to see the face of her old high school and youth group buddy, Jason Turner.

To be continued...

~*~

God Bless,

Monday, June 28, 2010

Review of Venom and Song!

Venom and Song by Wayne Thomas Batson and Christopher Hopper is the exciting second book in The Berinfell Prophecies. This thrilling action/fantasy book will capture the attention and enjoyment of many young readers.

Meet the seven young lords of Allyra, elves given special unique powers to defeat the evil of all evils, the Spider King. Three young men and three young women are the seven- thirteen years old on earth, yet eight hundred in elven years. Tommy, Lord Felheart. Autumn, Lord Miarra. Johnny, Lord Albriand. Jett, Lord Hamandar. Kat, Lord Alreenia. And finally, Kiri Lee, Lord Lothriel.

They must learn how to control and master their powers. They must learn how to work together as a team. And they must defeat the Spider King to save Allyra from the havoc the Spider King will be sure to wreak.

A pretty tall order for normal teenage kids from earth, huh?

Let's just give you a background of what I know. I've read all of the previous books by Mr. Batson, but I have not read the Curse of the Spider King, book one in the Prophecies of Berinfell series. I have also not read any book by Mr. Hopper.

Although I didn't understand some things, I still thought this book rocked!

Mr. Batson and Mr. Hopper did a wonderful job blending their writing voices to create this fantastic story. I never felt as if the writing style was changed or broken off, and the storyline was quite good. Readers can pick up from this book without reading book one, but I recommend reading the first one, ironically, first. I had several "huh?" moments.

I liked the surprise twist at the end, the uniqueness of the characters, and as I always say with Mr. Batson's works, and now, Mr. Hopper's, the totally awesome weapon action! I enjoyed how the seven lords' abilities matured and how they learned to work together. The leaders and mentors of the seven are brave, sacrificing, and noble. They lead a wonderful example for the teens and help steer them in the right path, though they know the ultimate decision is up to the young seven.

Some things that weren't my favorite was that the violence could get a little heavy for being listed as a juvenile fiction book and that I, as a gal late in high school, couldn't enjoy this book as much as I did Isle of Swords or Isle of Fire. I sort of felt like the actions and feelings of the characters were a little too young for me, which is very new. I still read juvenile fiction every chance I get, and I still enjoy characters that are way younger than me, but I just didn't understand the characters as much as I would like to have. So, I think that middle schoolers would enjoy this book, but perhaps late teens/adults may like it, but not as much. I recommend this book to people age 11 and up.

The verdict? I am so going to read book one in the series, along with the future books. This book is still just too cool! 

All in all, I rate this book four out of five stars.

~Specifics~ (from amazon.com)
~Hardcover: 384 pages
~Publisher: Thomas Nelson (July 13, 2010)
~Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.4 inches

Note: This book was given freely to me by Thomas Nelson Publishers for reviewing purposes. I am not obligated to publish a positive review. 

God Bless,

I'm Ba-ack!!!!

Yes, little ol' me has returned from an exhilarating vacation to Disney World. It was amazing, and I have many stories to tell. So, as I recover from a week of no sleep and all action, I'll post some non-vacation related things and compile my stories to share on Friday, for Randomness Friday!

I have to say, though, there really is no place like home.

God Bless,

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Friday, June 18, 2010

Randomness Friday: SAH-WEEET!


Welcome to RANDOMNESS FRIDAY!!!! *cheesy grin*

This week has been one of the most significant in my little insignificant life.

(ahem)

OMIGOSH THIS WEEK WAS INCREDIBLE! AWESOME! SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS!

..can you tell I'm excited?...Did the supercalifragilisticexpialidocious give it away?

Dude, I just spelled that word... twice!
~*~

I am leaving for the incredible trip to Disney World NEXT WEEK. It's been fun, shopping for summer clothes, snacks, and other stuff. My time will be short, but I know I will have a B-L-A-S-T. I'll be sure to tell y'all all about it when I come back.
~*~

I also have many more book reviews on the way. Several publishers have graciously allowed me to review books for them ( and by graciously, I really mean it. My name should be A Girl of Many Inquiries, because I feel so bad when I get confused and have to ask someone to clarify something... these people are heroes, just for tolerating me), so I'm super excited about that prospect. Thank you all so much for your comments on my reviews; not only are they encouraging, but they help with what I want to fix or add in the future!
~*~

I also got to ride a horse for about an hour Saturday. It was incredible, but I was pretty sore and exhausted afterwards. Still, it was great. I think I'm going to ride in the local 4th of July parade again, if all goes well.

~*~

The biggest news of all?
God turned a disappointment into something beautiful! I was trying to apply to volunteer at some local hospitals and health clinics, but I got turned down because of the lack of spaces in the program. I had just learned about volunteering at a hospital, so I had no clue about deadlines and such. I was pretty bummed...

Then...

I got a J-O-B! Granted, its only for 30min., one day a week, for five weeks, but I have been blessed with a job that deals with teaching children Tae Kwon Do. All of my years of hard work at martial arts is finally going to pay off, in more ways than just monetary. My experiences from Tae Kwon Do and teaching Sunday school to children at my church has set me up for the perfect summer job. I've always loved responsibility, and this job gives me that.
Thank you so much, God!
~*~

God has been so good to me, and I know for sure I don't deserve the tiniest bit of grace. It's been an incredible week for me.

What about you? Praises? Prayer requests?

Needtobreathe "Something Beautiful"


God Bless,

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Interview: Maggie!

Today I have the honor of interviewing a wonderful gal of faith, Maggie! Maggie is the blogkeeper of a newer blog, Bliss, you may know her for her former blog, Behind the Teen Scene. Now, she's blissfully blogging and has consented to an interview with little ol' me!
~*~

LINK:

Well? Aren't you going to go visit? Huh? HUH? ;)

Make sure you stop by Bliss to tell Maggie hi! After reading the interview, of course.
~*~

If you are interested in being interviewed by me on AGoMC be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom of this post to read the specifics
~*~

Now, for the interview!

Prism: Why did you first decide to enter the blogging world?
Maggie: Well, I had a blog called Behind the Teen Scene, but I closed it in late January. So I just recently (June 1st) started a new blog because I missed being able to comment on blogs, make new blogging friends, write posts, and all of the other fun things that come with blogging. I just really missed it, so I am so glad to be back and blogging and plan to be here in the blogging world to stay!

Prism: Who is the coolest person you've ever met?
Maggie: Our former Exploring Languages teacher was probably the coolest person I have ever met. At the beginning of each class when she walked into the room all of us would eye her outfit, hair, accessories, and especially her shoes! She has traveled all around the world so she has lots of really cute clothes from other countries. She is a prime example of the fact that you can still have really cute outfits and be dressed modestly. She also loves the Lord with all of her heart and currently lives in the Demonican Republic (or the DR as she calls it) teaching English and telling others about Christ. She also loved photography so she had tons of pictures put up around her room that she has taken. She is definitely the coolest person I have ever met!

Prism: Any pets?
Maggie: Yes, I have a yellow lab named Gunney. He is probably one of the craziest dogs ever.

Prism: What are your favorite colors?
Maggie: My favorite color depends on the day, but it's usually between pink, purple, brown, and baby blue.

Prism: Describe your personality?
Maggie: I may seem shy at first, but once you get to know me I love talking. I am very outgoing at times, which has it's down side (like saying everything that comes to my mind) I love the Lord with all of my heart and strive to do everything for His honor.

Prism: What is your favorite type of candy?
Maggie: Basically anything chocolate. :) I also love Skittles and Starbucks.

Prism: Do you play any sports?
Maggie: Yes, I am a dancer and do several different kinds of dance.

Prism: Would you sky dive if you were given the opportunity to?
Maggie: My friends and I had this conversation and said that I would probably be the one who would come up with enough nerve to go up into the air plane, but they would have to push me out of the plane to get me to go. :)

Prism: What is your least favorite subject in school?
Maggie: My least favorite subject in school would have to be science.

Prism: What does your blog say about you?
Maggie: The name of my blog, Bliss, means happiness. I am one of those people who is usually always smiling and happy. So the name of my blog most definitely describes my personality. 

Prism: Thanks a bunch, Maggie!
 
~*~

Want to be interviewed or interview me?

Email me at:

girlofmanycolors *at* gmail *dot* com

with the subject line "INTERVIEW" and with your blog address somewhere in the body of the email. After checking to make sure your blog is clean, I'll contact you about dates and the interview itself.

~*~

God Bless,

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Dear T&L...

 Please note: This is not my image 

Dear Thunder and Lightning,

Thank you so much for your contribution to the "Prism Sleepless Nights" fund. Your generous donations of nonstop electric and auditory ruckus helped me stay up last night with less than an hour of sleep. I will use your donations the best I can, trying not to fall into sluggishness of mind and body, fatigue, or grumpiness. I request that from now on, you submit your donations after 8AM and before 9PM.

Seriously.

I really mean it.

Sincerely,


P.S. Rain, rain, go away while I try to nap today. ;)

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Review of Motorcyles, Sushi, and One Strange Book

Life can get weird when you find out that the dad you though was dead suddenly reappears in your life, insisting you come live with him, unless, that is, your life was never normal with ADHD and a mom with bipolar disorder. Things can get a little crazy.
Delve into the story of Jessie in Motorcycles, Sushi, and One Strange Book by Nancy Rue!

Meet Jessie, who lives two lives. One, the life of a girl whose dad died heroically and whose mom is normal. Two, the life of a girl plagued by ADHD with a less-than-heroic dad she's never known, a mom who has two personalities, and a web of lies. Her world is soon torn apart when a man claiming to be her father talks to her on the phone.

Jessie is swept off with her dad into a new world with motorcycles, an uncomfortable job at a sushi restaurant, and a cute-but-annoying guy named Rocky. Oh, and some strange book she found on the way to her dad's home with the letters "RL" on the front and words in it that she can't help but soak in. How could a book feel so real?

This book was absolutely wonderful, and I definitely think this is one of my favorite books of all time. Jessie is more relatable than any character in a book I've ever read, as she struggles through her own problems as many of us do. Granted, some of us may not have to deal with ADHD as Jessie does or alchoholism as her father did, but we all have our own "demons". I have no negative comments about this book; everything the author did wove perfectly into a story that I enjoyed. Unlike the other book so far in the Real Life Series, Boyfriends, Burritos, and an Ocean of Trouble, Motorcycles, Sushi, and One Strange Book contains no bad language or extremely nasty stuff that's currently in the teen culture.

I find this book to be great for girls transitioning from preteen fiction to teen fiction. I recommend this book to gals age 12 and up.

All in all, I rate this book six out of five stars. It's really THAT good.

Specifics (from amazon.com):
~ Paperback: 224 pages
~ Publisher: Zondervan (April 16, 2010)
~ Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches

God Bless,

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Review of Boyfriends, Burritos, and an Ocean of Trouble

Boyfriends, Burritos, and an Ocean of Trouble- sounds pretty diverse, doesn't it? Author Nancy Rue of the new book series Real Life has blended real life with fiction in a way that teen girls can not only relate to, but learn from. I must admit, I was hooked from the start.

Meet Bryn Christopher, a girl with many secrets. It all starts when her boyfriend's abusive behavior leads to a car crash that injures Bryn. She is then forced to confess everything to the doctors and her dad when they see the unexplained bruises cause by her boyfriend. You'd think all the trouble would be over then, right?

Wrong.

Bryn's confession unleashes a tidal wave of insults and threats, all of them cutting her down to the core. It doesn't help much when Bryn's bossy grandmother, Mim, shows up and starts insisting that Bryn eat burritos and try surfing.

However, just when she thinks she is doomed, she finds a mysterious books with the words "RL" on the cover. What could it be? And how does the book know what she's going through?

Will Bryn's boyfriend get revenge? Will Bryn find out what the mysterious book is all about? Will she ever get the hang of surfing?

Read Boyfriends, Burritos, and an Ocean of Trouble to find out.

I love Nancy Rue's writing style- this isn't the first time I've said so. However, she really shines in this book. Characters are so unique, the places feel so real, and I greatly admire the addition of the Real Life book. Not only are the portions from RL (paraphrased Bible) understandable, but they help teen girls learn alongside Bryn. I also love the idea of the "Pass it On" campaign. Just like the girls in the book, teen girls can leave their own RL books in places where other people can find it. They can be like Bryn! A wonderful idea.

I only had one concern, and it was when Bryn's boyfriend (yes, the evil, abusive one) calls Bryn and her friend "hos" and "sluts"; it obviously does not encourage the use of foul language, as the antagonist uses that word, but it was still there. That was my only concern, and it's something to be aware about...

As for the age range, I recommend this book to teen girls in their late teens. There is violence and scary moments that may be frightening/uncomfortable for preteen or early teen girls. So, maybe 15 and up?

All in all, I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Specifics (Taken from amazon.com):

~ Paperback: 224 pages
~ Publisher: Zondervan (April 20, 2010)
~ Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches

God Bless,

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Awesomeful Followers: *gasp* NINETY!

It seems as if I've hit a ton of landmarks recently. 300 posts, my second anniversary of starting my blog, and now- ninety followers! Thank you all so much. I can't even begin to express how wonderful you all are.

Now, why am I not posting links?

1. It takes forever, and I don't know how to find some of you
2. I have an awesomeful idea!

How about you (yes, YOU, amazing follower) post a link to your blog with some interesting facts about you/your blog? This is YOUR chance to brag about you, because, in my opinion, you deserve it. After all, you do put up with my craziness ;)

Thanks to (in no specific order):

Shelley
Jaimee Heather
Guinevere
Becca Leslie
Brooklyn Richards
Maggie S.
Margaret Rowena
Sierra
Memzie
grace bieber
samarah
Milli
♥Bleah♥Briann♥
Elle
Shelby
Shaynie
Jon M.
☪Dreamstar
The Golden Eagle
Poppy
~Miss Zara~
GracieTheFirst
Maddie
Laurea
Karis
SincerelyEmmaM
Cherry
Xoxo
Abbie
Sara Kathryn
Emily Shae
Hayhay
Jare and Lib
Twinkle Toes/Floppyj10
Silver Angel
Jo March
Moriah
The Cowgirls
elizabeth
•The Cornet Crazie•
Abigail Prudence
Clare
AJ
Emma
Charity Anne
Buttercup
anna :)
Nahla of the Eastern Winds
Le Promeneur
Camellia Dayla
Wild Rose
Eldarwen
Joëlle
Alec S. Kindred
Eruanna
Andrew K. York
♥Libby♥
MoonShaw
Elmandir
Michaila
StarGazer
Violinist4Christ
***Emily***
Hannah
Emii
justagirl4god
Elránia
Elizabeth Kauffman
Lyceria
Jacob R Parker
KaleCharis
Megan
Tippie
SarahO'G
Araken
Ashleys Twin
God's Soldier
Paris
Sarah
Bryce
MaidenOfEmmanuel
mikayla
Amber
Hannah Ross
daniellapeter
Ellie

You rock!

God Bless,

Monday, June 7, 2010

Alliteration and Johnny Carson


"The Great Clapper Caper"- Johnny Carson and Jack Webb
Alliteration is awesome! :)

God Bless,

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Interview: Milli!

Today, I am honored to have the opportunity to have interviewed Milli, blogkeeper of Everything Crazy!
~*~
If you are interested in being interviewed by me on AGoMC or in interviewing me for your blog be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom of this post to read the specifics
~*~
Now, for the interview!!! :)

Prism: If you came up with a catch-phrase for your life, what would it be?
Milli: Every minute that you're angry, you lose 60 seconds of happiness. So, smile, laugh, and eat popcorn :D


Prism: Do you have any pets?
Milli: No. And here's why. I used to believe that I'm sort of cursed in a way. I've never had one pet that didn't die. My goldfish I had when I was 7 died because I forgot to feed it, my turtle died because of thirst and I accidentally killed that pet caterpillar I had. So, to spare the misery, I don't have any pets at the moment.



Prism: What do you write about the most on your blog?
Milli: Life. But, that's vague isn't it? Funny stories that I come across, and just random fun stuff that I think people would find...a bit entertaining.


Prism: Are you quiet and caring or loud and crazy?
Milli: I'd say quiet and caring. But, I do have my crazy and loud moments too. Especially when if I had just eaten a bar of chocolate.



Prism: What is your favorite color?
Milli: Blue! Like the sky and the ocean.

Prism: Hobbies?
Milli: Photography, sketching, writing stories, playing my piano and of course, reading.

Prism: Soda or water?
Milli: Water. I'm not allowed to have Soda normally.


Prism: If you could go to one place in the world for free, where would you go?
Milli: One place?! You've got to be kidding. I would want to travel the entire world. But since you said 'one' place....Greece. It looks like a neat place in photos and on tv, so I'm just assuming it's a neat place in real life.



Prism: How does your faith influence your blogging?
Milli: My faith influences my blogging in many ways! I guess it's because it's such a big part of of life and I blog about life.  God really is my inspiration for everything.


Prism: What is your favorite/life verse?
Milli: I'm not sure what you mean, but I my favourite verse is.  Matthew 5:8
"Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God. "

Prism: Thank you, Milli!

Milli: Thanks, Prism for interviewing me! It's was a huge blast!
~*~
Want to be interviewed or interview me?
Email me at:
girlofmanycolors *at* gmail *dot* com
with the subject line "INTERVIEW" and with your blog address somewhere in the body of the email. After checking to make sure your blog is clean, I'll contact you about dates and the interview itself.
~*~

God Bless,
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