Abbeygail's Sortie

Ok so school started on the 20th and by now I’ve been through a full week!!  *Hallelujah Chorus…*  I’m a senior in high school and so here’s my schedule every day 5 days a week:

Band – it’s completely horrible and awful and I hate it and I’m only staying so that I can still do solo competitions!  Seriously, it’s called a tuner clarinets.. use it and flutes/trumpets… practicing really does wonders for the ears!

Choir – IT”S AMAZING I LOVE IT!! ask me for the c.d. from last year! There’s nothing like singing with 149 other people who can also sing.

AP English Lit. & Comp. – good class, but every story we’ve read so far has a terribly depressing ending, which I suppose comes with the territory of reading interpretive fiction.

Spanish II – It’s going to be fine but my teacher looks like George Lopez, I kid you not and I don’t really remember anything from freshman year Span. I except “me llamo” means “my name is..” and “no se” is code for “i don’t know”

College Algebra – So far so good, I can still understand the book work and that’s always a good sign,, but we’ll see!  I do like Mrs. O____ she seems to be a pretty good teacher.

Zizzerette – It’s the newspaper staff at my high school… don’t ask me what it means.. but I like it and we just go CS4 put on the computers!!!!

Personal Finance – online, easy peasy, graduation requirement. nuff said

ACT Prep – taking it next semester but if what Audrey/Lauren say is any indication, it’s going to be awfully boring!

Ok so anyway, I’m in choir.  Apparently Mrs. D___ thought I was good, so I’m also in Swing Set and Madgrigals!!! So I get to do extra practice, and perform more AND go to Kansas City to the renassaince festival which is going to be amazing.

So that’s me right now.  enjoy. leave a comment.  don’t. do whatever.  just don’t become a liberal and lower your flag for ted kennedy’s death just like my nazi-lawn neighbors who didn’t even get the flag OUT for Independence Day! lol what hopeless losers.

Tomorrow morning, at 5 in the a.m. I will taking leave of West Plains to head off to Gallatin!  This where I’m from you see.  I left there 3 mos. ago and was very sad about it.  But I have two more orthodontist appointments and I will be traveling t St. Joe tomorrow to go the first of the last.  I am so excited!  I’ll see you soon Kaymon!

DISCLAIMER: I don’t own Twilight, Brio Magazine, or The Holy Bible.  I’m just relaying info and points of view that I both agree with and found of high interest.  Enjoy.

Cross Post fromBrio Online
Twilight’s Blood-Soaked Romance
by Melanie M. Cogdill

In the dappled sunlight in the clearing of a meadow on the edge of a forest, 16-year-old Bella Swan’s heart races as GQ-model-handsome Edward Cullen draws near to her. Edward, in love with Bella, musters every ounce of self-control not to kill her. Killing’s his first instinct—because he’s a vampire. This scene, a vivid dream of author Stephenie Meyer, sparked her imagination to write Twilight, the first book of a bestselling young-adult series.

The Phenomenon

From that original dream, Stephenie, a 30-something housewife and mom of three young boys, has birthed a four-novel series that has sent teen girls and women of every age swooning over the star-crossed love story of Bella and Edward. In fact, a movie based on the series, starring Kristen Stewart (Into the Wild) as Bella Swan and Robert Pattinson (two of the “Harry Potter” movies) as Edward Cullen, opens Nov. 21.

The series has certainly appealed to a wide audience, but just because everyone’s reading it, should you? Despite the series’ surface appeal as a romance, it communicates many messages that are contrary to the Christian faith, and that’s not something you should be filling your mind with.

Truth and Relationships

God created us as relational beings, and girls in particular are created to be relational (Genesis 2-3). We tend to focus on relationships, but sometimes we make an idol out of them or fantasize over our desire for a relationship with that “perfect” guy. No guy can ever live up to the way Stephenie portrays Edward. He’s the fantasy creation of a woman writer.

Bella’s obsession with Edward is wrong. She’s even willing to become a vampire herself so she can “live” forever with Edward. But how can a human ever be yoked to or be in a serious relationship with a vampire? And what’s dangerous about Stephenie’s series is that the reader, too, enters into Bella’s obsession with Edward.

If we believe in God and believe the Bible guides how we live our lives, then we know our highest priority is our love for God and our relationship with Him. God should be the driving force of our lives and not a guy, no matter how attentive, respectful, cool and loving he appears to be. The “Twilight” books don’t communicate God’s truth about relationships.

The “Twilight” series also teaches unbiblical attitudes toward authority. Bella doesn’t respect her parents. She loves them, but they come across as clueless and out of touch with what’s going on in her life. Edward sneaks into Bella’s room every night to sleep next to her, and Bella lies to her dad about it.

Talking About God

Every part of culture (books, movies, music, art and fashion) communicates the belief of the writer, musician, designer or director. The “Twilight” series is no different. It conveys specific beliefs about God. Statements about God and salvation are peppered throughout the story in a subtle way. But are they biblical?

Good and evil in Twilight.

Edward and his family are supposedly a different kind of vampire. The Cullens think killing humans is wrong. Even though they thirst for human blood, they abstain and instead hunt bears and large game for their blood. Stephenie’s story communicates that even though Edward is technically an evil being—he is, after all, a vampire—he tries to be good by not killing humans for food. But can an evil being ever be “good”? If he repents and reforms his ways—Beauty and the Beast, anyone?—yes, but the vampires in this series do not. They remain vampires.

Good and evil in the Bible.

The Bible teaches the opposite of what “Twilight” does about goodness and salvation. Human beings are sinners. We cannot know God apart from faith in Christ’s death on the cross for our sins. Romans 3:22-24 states, “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”

Many people believe that when they die, God will allow them into heaven because they tried to live a good life and do good deeds. That is basically what the vampires of this series do; they believe that by doing “good” deeds (e.g., not killing humans), they can be saved.

But the Bible clearly teaches no one can be redeemed by good deeds. It’s only through faith in Christ that we can enter heaven and into the presence of the God. Yes, the “Twilight” story is only fiction. It’s not the Bible, but Christian readers need to be on guard to discern if spiritual statements in books, films or music match the truth of God’s Word.

An Entry to the Occult

The final book in the series, Breaking Dawn, makes a hard turn from romance into horror and the occult. Bella and Edward get married and have sex.

In one extended, very disturbing scene, Bella dies and is transformed into a vampire. She gives birth to a half-human, half-vampire baby, which tears its way out of her belly with torrents of blood.

What Do You Believe?

It’s easy to think it’s no big deal to see the latest hip movie or read the books everyone else is reading and not pay attention to what those media are saying.

We’re to love God with every fiber of our beings, and that includes loving Him with our minds (Matthew 22:36-38). We need to think about what fills our minds. Does it reflect biblical truth? The “Twilight” series does not. Just because the culture loves these books does not mean you should. As Scripture tells us, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).

This article appeared in Brio magazine in December 2008. Copyright © 2008 Melanie M. Cogdill. All rights reserved. International copyright secured.

My title comes from a Mother Goose rhyme which goes:

To market, to market, to buy a fat hog.

Home again, home again, jiggety jog.

To market, to market, to buy a fat pig.

Home again, home again, jiggety jig.

It’s s nice to be at home.  I really am so very blessed to be here with my family.  There’s plenty of room for us all and there’s always food to eat and clean clothes and company.  I really love it here.  But enough of this waxing.  Last night, after the Harry Potter movie got out at 9:30, Dad decided to take Anna to the hospital. He decided to do this after Anna described a pain she was having (and had been having off and on for the last couple days) in her lower right side.  Naturally, we assumed it was likely to be appendicitis.  As I said they entered the local E.R. at about 9:30 in the evening.  Finally at around… oh … 3 IN THE A. M.!! (seriously, it has to be the slowest and stupidest night shift I’ve ever seen!) They “promptly” informed Anna and my parents that it was a kidney infection, gave her a prescription, and told her no more baths or soda.  So its showers and cranberry juice/water for Anna from now on.

Keep Anna in your prayers… she’s tired of getting these infections.

So today after scrambling to find the prescription (because my mother conveniently lost it!) we went to walmart pharmacy and bought the antibiotics.  Then we went out for AMAZING catfish and hushpuppies at an amazing restaurant in a little nothing town called Thomasville.  I very solemnly swear to you that it will surely always be the teeniest tiniest almost-not-on-the-map towns that have the best catfish restaurants!  It’s twoo!

Then we went to dinner at a family’s house, who go to our church.  They are nice people, to be sure.  However, they’re company leaves much to be desired.  As a pastor’s daughter, I’m used to putting up with borish people, and so bore it well  I will say, though, that I was not sorry to leave.  I was not sorry to come home.  I came home to my bed and the last half of MI3.  Which I can say I enjoyed very much.

Endorsement: Apple iPhone/iTouch – you need one!!!  When you buy one, download the TapTap2 App.  It’s a ton of fun!

Goodnight Homies ;D

I forgot I was going to keep the world posted of what I was up to for the rest of my life… sort of.  But instead, I forgot my promise and so know will apologize.  I am sorry.  Great, now that that’s taken care of, we can move on!

Now the last time I really posted was July 4th… and obviously today is NOT July 5th.  Since I last posted I saw my Aunt Ruth and her two “adorable and well behaved” children.  I also spent this past week helping the first grade class at my church’s annual VBS.  We had a great time exploring Australia on Lifeway’s The Boomerang Express.  ”All Aboard!”

 Last night I spent the evening in a theatre smelling of mildew watching an extremely amateur presentation of The Music Man.  It was very sweet.

Tonight was very exciting though!  I was FINALLY able to go see Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince!!  So exciting.  The best one I’ve seen since the third movie came out.  ***SPOILER*** The only things I was unhappy about were: 1. They gave the Harry/Ginny post-Quidditch kiss to Ron/Lavendar!! 2. They made up a scene where Fenrir Greyback and Bellatrix Lestrange attack the Burrow and burn it down!  3. They completely left out the building tension between Harry and Snape! 4. Not once did I hear a single rendition of “Weasely Is Our King” 5. Where was the twins’ “You-Know-Poo” poster? 5. Why did I not get to see Dumbledore’s beautiful funeral? and finally 6. The battle at Hogwarts when Harry/Dumbledore come back apparently ceased to exist from the story-line.  

Granted, even with all six of the aforementioned flaws, the movie was still amazing, awesome, excellent, and, dare I say it, swell!  Loved it SOoo much!  The Inferi were as creepy as they should have been.  Also, lots of great comedy in this one.  You should all go see it,,, like about now would be good, yeah!

These are my wants and these are my needs…. according to Google.

Abigail wants to kill her AND Abigail needs a drummer

Abigail wants a cat scan AND Abigail needs a hat

Abigail wants your gems AND Abigail needs more character development

Abigail wants iced chocolate AND Abigail needs a family

Abigail wants in on the blog AND Abigail needs special care

Abigail wants revenge AND Abigail needs a new coat and therapist

Abigail wants shoes/handbags AND Abigail needs a time-out

Abigail wants more chochoba AND Abigail needs a parkin-lot

Abigail wants a ring AND Abigail needs our help

Abigail wants to be an Oscar-winning actress AND Abigail needs Niki

So it’s been two weeks since I last wrote… no big deal right?  WRONG.  A Blogger should never abandon her blog no matter how unnoticed it goes in the blogging world.  So here I am– thoroughly ashamed and ready type your eyes off!

Two weeks ago on a Sunday morning, I took off with my mother and my brother to Missouri Girls State.  Yes.  I live in Missouri, but moving on… Day 1 consisted of city elections: I lost.  

Day 2 consisted of city organizing: I had no job so I volunteered for poster girl!!  

Day 3 consisted of county elections: I won! I was now a Senator in the Missouri Girls State senate!!! Yahoo! 

Day 4 consisted of a lovely trip to the capitol in Jeff City where I took part in a mock session in the actual Senate chamber!!!  The chairs are lovely by the way I HIGHLY recommend sitting in one if you ever have the chance!  We also elected our party officials (go true blue) and elected the people for our party caucus.  I auditioned for the talent show with the song Only Hope from A Walk To Remember.  I got in

Day 5 consisted of listening to a million speeches and voting for Missouri Girls State Governor, Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, etc., etc.  for the 2010 session of MO Girls State.  Then the state fair and talent show.  We got to listen to a guys acapella group from Truman Univ.  They were quite good and good looking.

Day 6 consisted of not much.  I took my Legislative class exam and passed so I’ll be receiving three hours of college credit which I pray will transfer anywhere I decide to go next year.  Then we had the Inauguration Ceremony where I wore my beautiful black dress and looked positively elegant!

Day 7 consisted of finally escaping the moldy, nasty, boys-were-living-here-last-week, make-your-feet-dirty dorms and celebrating my dad’s 42nd birthday.  Happy Birthday Daddy!

So I got to come home for Saturday evening and all of Sunday… then on Monday morning at approx. 10:45 I pulled out of my church’s parking lot and headed to Branson.  How did it go then?  Well that’s what I am about to tell you!

It was a mixture of things first the camp we were supposed to go to had our group scheduled for a different week so after calling many other camps looking for somewhere to go… we ended going to stay at a hotel in Branson and using their tiny conference room as a chapel. So monday we snuck into branson’s middle school soccer field to play capture the chicken. tuesday my room avoided all forms of recreation by sneaking back to our room for a three hour nap!! lol wednesday we went to white water but i got a burn on my back that looks like a fish (its still there!) Thurs. we saw Under The Sea and IMAX presentation narrated by Jim Carrey (it was boring and his jokes were lame and they butchered Octupus Garden!) Then Friday we came home. My small group was led by a lady who just joined the church and she didn’t have a clue… so basically I led my small group at church camp this year weird but fun. We had one girl get a concussion and another girl go to the ER by ambulence bc her began to bother her so much that she had to lay down or she’d puke and she had to walk very slowly for the rest of the trip. The food was excellent. I made a friend and her name is Audrey.

Happy Birthday America!  It’s great to live here but I wish I was Italian….  Yes it’s the fourth.  I have celebrated by watching HBO’s John Adams special (AWESOME!!) and The Patriot starring Mel Gibson (ALSO AWESOME!!- gotta love that Heath with no clowny face) and now I will be bidding the reader adieu and heading to a celebration at a friend’s house.  Sparklers, Grilling out, Summer breezes, Red White & Boom, indeed the fourth has arrived!  God Bless!

So today I woke up at a “decent” hour… 11:30 so to speak.  From there I proceeded to a senior citizen picnic where I ate a juicy burger and won a free oil change.  ’Woot’  After that I, my mother, two of my siblings, and a girl named Emily, decided that at 92 degrees Farenheit, it was hot enough to go swimming.  So we did, for about 2 hours.  Then we dropped the girl named Emily off at her home and then visited every grocer in town in search for the right dinner ingredients.  We went to Aldi’s, Dollar Store, Country Mart, and Wal*Mart.  Then for supper we had pasta with olive oil, garlic, salt, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, pine nuts, and shrimp.  We also had a family favorite: Artichoke Dip!!!!!  Ah, food love.

Afterwards I spent the next FOUR HOURS debating placement of pictures, wall decorations, award plaques, and shadowboxes on the walls of my new room.  Oh sorrow joy and sadness jubilation!  A good time was had by Mom.

Alas, this means I missed out on watching the beloved Anne of Green Gables.  What’s that you say?  Well only one of the best film adaptations of literature ever made!!  Seriously, if you haven’t seen it… well you should just get off the internet and go rent it.  Right.  NOW.

Au Revoir!

p.s. This just in: The Europeans needed something to sell to tourists.  One very wise man stood up and said, “Let’s bottle water and give it to the Americans!!”  And then we took it. What a sad, sad world

Yeah I know I’ve posted three times today and this last one is within minutes of the last one which was within minutes and a half of the first one… but I digress.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO POINT OUT HOW TOTALLY INANE AND POINTLESS IT IS TO REQUIRE PAYMENT FOR THE OPTION OF CUSTOMIZING YOUR BLOG’S TEMPLATE!  TRULY, A VERY STUPID REQUIREMENT.

And so, I will simply make do with this lovely, but not firstly chosen, template offered by WordPress, for FREE  Thank-you. And Goodnight.

Anne Frank and me is a novel written by Cherie Bennett and Jeff Gottesfeld.    Known for their play-writing collaborations, they have won many awards for their work.  When this play was written, it had a very successful Broadway run.  Then the authors decided to turn their work into a book for all to enjoy… and by all I mostly mean the female adolescent pop.  I think now would be an appropriate time to mention that I only checked this book out of the library at around 10:15 this morning and just now at 11p.m. have finished it… all in one day ya’ll!!  I’m very proud of my reading accomplishment!  After all it IS a 290 page book!  Anyway… back to the book.

Anne Frank and me is about a 15 year old girl, a sophomore in high school, named Nicole Burns.  She is an Internet-savvy, boy-crazed tenth grader in the suburbs of America.  But due to the panic after the sound of gunfire at an Anne Frank exhibit, Nicole Burns is whip-lashed through time and space.  She awakens to find herself as a privileged Jewish girl in Occupied Paris.  As the Nazi death grip tightens on the city and everyone she loves, Nicole is forced to make the most shattering moral choices imaginable–choices that resonate deeply in her modern life.  Her journey in this story brings her face-to-face with Anne Frank, through trials and tribulations that cause her to lose her “father” by gun-shot, then “mother” by exhaustion, then finally her “sister” and herself to gas chamber.  When Nicole finally awakens, she realizes the true horror of the Holocaust and is forever changed by her experience in 1940s France.

Truly a wonderful piece of literature!  Loved every second of it… you should read it!