April, 2013

March and April, 2013

Forever His Princess

Connect with girls through writing!

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Credits: Editor: Elisa Knicely Co-Editor- Elesa Stoltzfus Designer- Elisa Knicely Compilation: Microsoft Word 2010 Photo Editing: Pizap, Picasa, Pic-monkey and Word 2010 Theme- Daisies!

Cover Photo: Google Theme Verse For All FHP Magazines: A Friend Loveth at All times. Proverbs: 17:17 (See New Theme Verse in ‘Forever His Princess’!)

A special Thank-You to all who contributed! It was greatly appreciated!

“We ask that you request to copy any portion of this magazine; section, wording or even format. Thank-you!”

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Contents Note from the Editor

Mystery Photo

Birthdays!

Recipe’s/ Having Fun in the Kitchen!

Questions:

Poll

1. What does your name mean?

Stories’

2. Do you have a thirst for adventure or like to go about life peacefully?

In The Land of Poems

Facts about Theme-Dasies

Forever His Princess

Meet a Reader!

His Princess

Hide it in your heart-Bible Reading

New Word and if only they could talk!

Contest

The way we live in: Floyd, Virginia

Fun Facts

I Love Photography Photography Tips Giggle station

Brain Buster The Wonders of Creation New Reader’s

History: Candles

Sneak Peak

Feature: ! ~ 3 ~29 and 30!

On page

There is something about spring that is very addictive! The ‘just-right-weather’, the beautiful scenery, and the thought, that school-is almost

out! I adore being outside and going barefoot!

To share any contributions contact:

I really, really enjoyed designing and editing this magazine! Daises are probably my favorite

elisaknicely@gmail.com or elesarose@gmail.com.

flower, their colors are so majestic! Letitia and

see submission guidelines on “Last Note”:

Sylvia- I also enjoyed seeing your input for the designing contest! You all did a very good job, and looks like you took your time and did it very carefully!

If you would enjoy the list of ‘Forever His Princess’ members, pictures and information contact me and I would be glad to send it to you!

We really appreciate all you do for this magazine! Please keep sending contributions in!

Have a wonderful month, of April.

Sincerely, Designer and Editor,

Elisa Knicely .

~4~

April Birthdays!

Brenda Joy Eshleman turns 13 on April 30!

Hannah Joy Gassman turns 15 on April, 8 !

Kara Weaver turns 13 on April 23!

Best Wishes in the coming year!

March Birthdays Megan Bailey turned 11 on March, 19!

Regan Strite turned 14 on March 20!

Happy Birthday Girls!! Have a wonderful

Questions:

year!

What Does Your Name Mean?

“Youthful one.” Julie Esh “Glad” Letitia Wadel “Victory” Victoria Martin “Beautiful Woman.” Andrea Martin “A wise Discerner” Denise Amstutz “God Is my Crown.” Katriel Knicely

“My name, Adeline, means noble and sweet. My nickname, Addie, means son of Adam. I think I like the meaning of my full name better”: ) Addie Imel

“my name means graceful” Hana Knicely “Flower.” Laurel Weaver ~5~ “of the forest.” Sylvia Yoder

Do you have a thirst for adventure or like to go about life peacefully?

~6~

Normally all of us have one flower, which we are very particularly fond of. There can be different reasons for the same. Some of us identify with the characteristics of the flower, hence the flower becomes a favorite flower. To others it can be about the colors, the beauty, etc. Daisies are very popular among a huge cross section of people.

Although in the recent years, the sale of flowers is depleting, the sale of daisies is on the rise. This can be attributed to the fact that these flowers are simple and elegant and they bring beauty to the gardens, they are in. At the same time, daisies also convey cheer and exuberance in spades. Hence, they have also become popular as gifts as well as flowers to be grown in the gardens. There are many interesting facts about these flowers that have caught my attention.

Where did the Daisy Flower Get its Name The word 'daisy' has an Anglo Saxon origin. It came from the Anglo Saxon words daes eage.

The literal meaning of these words is 'day's eye'. It was so-called, as the daisies open at dawn, just at the time, when the day is about to begin.

~7~

Trivia 1. Commonly, a daisy has a yellow center and is surrounded by white petals.

However, it can have petals of other colors, such as pink or rose as well.

2. Daisies are actually not one flower only. They are made up of two flowers, namely disk florets and petal-like white ray florets. It is the arrangement of this florets, which gives it an appearance of a single flower.

3. The plant is a perennial plant, which has evergreen leaves, that form a basal tuft.

4. The plant grows in prostate fashion.

5. Daisies can be propagated either by division in spring or by sowing seeds either in spring or late autumn.

Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/daisy-flower-facts.html

“Daisies are found everywhere on earth except Antarctica; Daisy leaves are edible and can make a tasty edition to salads.” – Harmoni Ropp

~8~

Note: We usually only issue ONE Reader per month at the most- two. So if yours isn’t in yetdon’t worry We’ll get there sometime!

M E E

Addie Imel Name: Adeline (Addie) Grace Imel Age: 13 State: Indiana Fav. day of the year: I'm not really sure!

Strawberries or blueberries: I like them both the same.

What's on the floor of your closet: Wow...lots of stuff! Roller skates, boxes, backpacks, and anything else you can imagine!

How many states have you lived in: Just one.

Plain, cheesy, or spicy hamburgers: Prob. cheesy....depends on what kind of cheese it is!

Fav. dog breed: POODLES!!!!

Fav. day of the week and why: Saturday because I can sleep in Do you like being hot or cold: I don't like either, but if I had to choose on I'd probably go with cold.

Fav. part of the magazine: Pretty much all of it!

Breanna Fawn Reinford Age 13

T A R E A

3. State Nevada What’s your favorite day of the year?

D

Christmas or my b-day Do you like strawberries or blueberries better? definitely strawberries

E

What’s on the floor of your closet? Shoes AND MORE SHOES!!!!

How many states did you live in? 2(Wisconsin and Nevada)

R

Do you prefer Plain, cheesy or spicy hamburgers? spicy and cheesy

\

Favorite Dog breed? Border Collie Favorite day of the week? Friday Why? I like it because we don't have school and I don't have to start cleaning until Saturday.:) Do you like being hot, or cold? depends!!!but for sleeping I like to be cold!!

Favorite part of the magazine? The recipes

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NEW WORD

New Word Jabberwocky; noun Meaning: meaningless speech or writing Sentence: The salesman started spewing computer jabberwocky at me like an auctioneer. I understood about every sixth word he uttered." — From an article by Larry D. Clifton in The Tampa Tribune, September 6, 1998

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If only they could Talk!

“Hey, let's stop for a rest soon.I am wore out!!”- Julie Esh k

“Beat you to the next trash bin!”- Katriel Knicely “Beat Ya to it!” Letitia Wadal “Whoa! Wait For me!” Jamie Sauder "Gotta burn of all that kibble!" OR "Hey...look at that pretty poodle over there. Let's pick up the pace!" Addie Imel “come on Bud I smell bacon!!!” Denise Amstutz dog on the right ; "we're best friends" puppy on the left, "Yes, and we can conquer the world together."- Hana Knicely ......on the right ; "yes. Oh, I see a cat! right beside the barn. .......on the left ;"Let's go!"

So together they conqured the world.

"FINALLY i can be let out of my pen to run freely!" Harmoni Ropp ~ 11 ~

Caption what the Kitten is saying!?

~ 12 ~

The Way we live in: Floyd, Virginia p

Elisa Knicely (me) :-p

 Our House

Our wonderful curvy roads! :P

~ 13 ~

My name is Elisa:). I am 12 years old and I live in Floyd. Almost the first six years of my life, I lived in an absolutely, wonderful place called Bonners Ferry, Idaho. The west still holds a big part of me.

Floyd is what you call a very small town. It has one stop-light in the whole town; and very little shopping centers. We have to drive 30 minutes in order to get to a ‘shopping’ town. True, we do get groceries here: we have a Food Lion and a Slaughters. We have a small thrift store: Angles in the Attic, three banks, and several just –look-at-the-things- shops! Most of it is really just rural.

We have a lot of woods around and a lot of open, hilly fields. We live in curvesyou don’t go anywhere without going around at least 5 curves. Now, you out west? You have it great! We live in the mountains; so that explains some things! Weather here: I know weather is a boring subject but… Usually in the Winter it is freezing temps. Well… (to me it is) I really don’t enjoy cold, and to top it off we don’t usually get a lot of snow. Fall and Spring here are usually wonderful. It is very mild. In the summer, however, we do get our full dose of sun.

The church we go to just started in 1999 or so. We have an attendants of about 90-95. Our school is small as well. We have 23 students in one room all different grades; and actually Dad is our teacher. This is his first year teaching in Floyd.

I like Floyd because around Christmas time it looks so decorative! They hang snowflakes on the posts and its REALLY cute! (see pictures above) So… all-in-all I like this place.

~ 14 ~

Destinee Stoltzfus!

Sylvia Yoder! ~ 15 ~

Elisa Knicely

Sarah Ebersole!

~ 16 ~

Photography Tips:

One of the most important things in growing your photography is being confident in yourself.

Play with point of view. This is a sure-fire way to put more pizzazz in your photography. Whenever possible, alter your viewpoint, instead of shooting everything from the usual standing position. For some shots, get high and point down at your subject. For others, get down low and point up. And, when photographing children, pets and flowers, get down and shoot from their eye level for more engaging results.

Don't leave home without your camera! This easy act separates casual picture takers from serious image makers.

By routinely carrying a camera, you'll often come up with good pictures you wouldn't have captured otherwise. You will give your shooting eye regular workouts as you look for subjects and consider the light, and your camera functions will become second nature. It gives you a reason to stop and talk with people - even strangers. Now, how cool is that!?

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March Questions What’s Your Favorite Bible Character?

My Favorite Bible Character is probably Ruth.

Sylvia Yoder

Probably Esther!

Bethany Gehman

My favorite Bible Character is Jesus.

Brenda Eshleman

Naamans (sp?) servant girl. because she kept her faith even when everything went wrong!!

Denise Amstutz

Esther. Victoria

Martin

What is your pet-peeve?

1.

2.

3.

4.

Stepping in water with socks on!! Denise Amstutz when someone scrapes their fingernails on a chalkboard. Bethany Gehman When I can’t get up at 6:30! Elisa Knicely My pet peeve is when a person argues about something that he really doesn't

know much about. Victoria Martin 5. One of my pet peeves is a messy, unorganized room! Sylvia Yoder

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Children say the Funniest Things!

1.

When a mother saw a thunderstorm forming in mid-afternoon, she worried about her seven-year-old daughter who would be walking the three blocks from school to home.

Deciding to meet her, the mother saw her daughter walking nonchalantly along, stopping to smile whenever lightning flashed. Seeing her mother, the little girl ran to her, explaining happily, "All the way home, God's been taking my picture!"

2.

A mother took her three-year-old daughter to church for the first time. The church lights were lowered, and then the choir came down the aisle, carrying lighted candles. All was quiet until the little one started to sing in a loud voice, "Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you...."

3. A little boy walked down the beach, and as he did, he spied a matronly woman sitting under a beach umbrella on the sand. He walked up to her and asked, "Are you a Christian?" "Yes." "Do you read your Bible every day?" She nodded her head, "Yes." "Do you pray often?" the boy asked next, and again she answered, "Yes." With that he asked his final question. "Will you hold my quarter while I go swimming?"

4.

Six-year-old Angie and her four-year-old brother Joel were sitting together in church. Joel giggled, sang, and talked out loud. Finally, his big sister had enough. "You're not supposed to talk out loud in church." "Why? Who's going to stop me?" Joel asked. Angie pointed to the back of the church and said, "See those two men standing by the door? They're hushers."

5.

Attending a wedding for the first time, a little girl whispered to her mother, "Why is the bride dressed in white?" "Because white is the color of happiness and today is the happiest day of her life," her mother tried to explain, keeping it simple. The child thought about this for a moment, then said, "So, why's the groom wearing black?"

~ 19 ~

6.

On the first day of school, the Kindergarten teacher said, "If anyone has to go to the bathroom, hold up two fingers." A little voice from the back of the room asked, "How will that help?�

The blonde wife came home from her first day commuting in the city. Her husband noticed she was looking a little pale and asked, "Honey, are you feeling all right?" "Not really," she replied. "To tell you the truth, I'm a little nauseous from sitting backward on the train!" "Poor dear," her husband replied. "Why didn't you ask the person sitting across from you to switch seats for a while?" "I wanted to, but I couldn't," she replied. "There was no one there."

-

Harmoni Ropp

~ 20 ~

So there was this farmer whose wife had been a schoolteacher and was really picky about grammar and all that. So one day the farmer told his wife, "Bill's coming over for supper tonight." And she said, "Dont say bill, say William." After supper was over, Bill said," I'm gonna tell ya'll a tall tale." And she said, " Dont say tale, say anecdote." Then later that evening right before they went to bed the farmer said, " I'm going to go put the candle out." And his wife said, "Don't say put it out, say extinguished."

After they had just got into bed, they heard some noises down in the kitchen, so the farmer went down to check. His wife heard some scuffling and soon he came back up and she wanted to know what the deal was. He said, " The William goat was in the kitchen so I grabbed him by the anecdote and extinguished him!"

Contributed By: Julie Esh

~ 21 ~

History:

Candles Early Wicked Candles The Egyptians were using wicked candles in 3,000 B.C., but the ancient Romans are generally credited with developing the wicked candle before that time by dipping rolled papyrus repeatedly in melted tallow or beeswax. The resulting candles were used to light their homes, to aid travelers at night, and in religious ceremonies.

Middle Ages Most early Western cultures relied primarily on candles rendered from animal fat (tallow). A major improvement came in the Middle Ages, when beeswax candles were introduced in Europe. Unlike animal-based tallow, beeswax burned pure and cleanly, without producing a smoky flame. It also emitted a pleasant sweet smell rather than the foul, acrid odor of tallow. Beeswax candles were widely used for church ceremonies, but because they were expensive, few individuals other than the wealthy could afford to burn them in the home.

Colonial Times Colonial women offered America's first contribution to candle-making, when they discovered that boiling the grayish-green berries of bayberry bushes produced a sweetsmelling wax that burned cleanly. However, extracting the wax from the bayberries was extremely tedious. As a result, the popularity of bayberry candles soon diminished.

Today's Candles Candles have come a long way since their initial use. Although no longer man's major source of light, they continue to grow in popularity and use. Today, candles symbolize celebration, mark romance, soothe the senses, define ceremony, and accent home decors ~ 22 ~ — casting a warm and lovely glow for all to enjoy.

Mystery Photos’ Figure out where this picture was taken?

Answer: Glacier National Park; in Montana

The Next Picture!  Where do you think this next picture Is taken?!

~ 23you ~ send in!

We welcome any pictures

Chocolate- Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles Yield: About 32 truffles Prep Time: 50 min + rising time Cook Time: 2 min

“These little truffles are incredible rich, and they're reserved for both chocolate lovers and cookie dough lovers alike!”

Ingredients: 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature 3/4 cup granulated white sugar 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 to 3 tablespoons milk or cream 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 cup Gold Medal® All-Purpose Flour

~ 24 ~

2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 3/4 cup miniature chocolate chips melting chocolate (like Baker's Dipping Chocolate) sprinkles or additional mini chips, for garnish Directions: 1. Prepare the cookie dough: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to combine the butter, sugars and salt. Mix in 2 tablespoons of milk or cream and vanilla extract. Sift in the flour and cocoa powder and mix until well-combined. If the mixture seems dry, add up to 1 tablespoon, of additional milk or cream, until the dough comes together nicely in clumps. Stir in the chocolate chips. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours, or until the dough is very firm.

2. Roll the cookie dough: Using a tablespoon (and clean hands), scoop out spoonful’s of the firmed-up cookie dough and roll it into 1-inch or so balls. Place them on a waxed-paper-lined baking sheet. Roll all of the cookie dough balls and then place the baking sheet of balls into the refrigerator to firm them up again (at least 15 to 20 minutes).

3. 3. Melt the chocolate for dipping. Take about 10 cookie dough balls out of the refrigerator at a time. Set a cookie dough ball on top of a fork, dip, shake off the excess and then gently place onto a wax-paper-lined platter or baking sheet. Sprinkle immediately with decor (sprinkles or mini chips). Repeat with remaining cookie dough balls. And then take 10 more

4. out of the fridge and repeat until you've dipped them all. Refrigerate to set, or let sit at room temperature until the chocolate has set. These do not need to be refrigerated, but they certainly can be. Store them in a covered container. Taken By: Recipe Girl

~ 25 ~

Skinny Chocolate- Caramel Banana Bread Yield: 1 loaf (16 servings) Prep Time: 20 min Cook Time: 1 hour Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour 3/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/3 cup packed brown sugar 1/3 cup granulated white sugar 2 tablespoons softened unsalted butter 2 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce 1 1/2 cups mashed ripe banana (about 3 medium) 1/2 cup egg whites (or 2 large) 1/3 cup light sour cream 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 5 packets Skinny Cow™ Milk Chocolate Dreamy Clusters Candy, chopped Directions: 1. Place rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray an 8-inch loaf pan with nonstick spray.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, soda and salt.

~ 26 ~

3. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to combine the sugars, butter and applesauce. Mix in the banana, egg whites, sour cream and vanilla. Blend in the dry ingredients and mix just until combined. Stir in the chopped candy, reserving a few pieces to sprinkle on top.

4. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the reserved chocolate pieces on top.

5. Bake for 1 hour (checking at 45 minutes on how much the top has browned... place a piece of foil loosely on top of the loaf if it has already browned nicely on top). At one hour, draw a toothpick or a sharp knife into the center of the loaf to check for doneness. It should come out fairly clean- if not, bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes until done.

6. Cool in the pan for 10 to 15 minutes, then turn out on a wire rack to cool completely before cutting and serving.

~ 27 ~

Feature:

Tulip Place Setting A spring green plate garnished with a single rose-tinged tulip sets a cheery back drop for a fun spring setting. A mini pink handbag filled with chocolates and an individual menu  makes guests feel special.

 Seed Packed Favors Seed packets slipped under forks at place settings make pretty party favors!

Painted Tin Can Vases  For a casual brunch outdoors, place simple groupings ~ of 28 flowers ~ into coffee and soup cans. Try using moss instead of floral foam. Flowers stay in place, and the moss is still reusable.

Country Garden Place Setting Napkins wrapped in burlap and freesia add a fragrant and elegantly simple touch.

Hydrangea Table Setting Soft lavender hudrangeas in a crsp white pot perfectly match this quilted tablecloth and white dishes. 

Cupcake display Fun decorated cupcakes become a lovely centerpeice when displayed on a vintage cake stand!

~ 29 ~

March PollIn my spare time I like to:  Sew 

bake



swim



jump on the trampoline



socialize Two People Wanted to Sew Two People wanted to Bake Six people want to Socialize Four people want to swim

April Poll: What makes you laugh a lot?

1. Best Friends 2. Funny Stories/Funny books 3. Family 4. Other- (please specify)

~ 30 ~

Four People said Best Friends Two People said Funny Stories and Funny Books Three People said Family Julie said: “Best Friends that are funny.”

Hana Said, “When I talk to Elisa.”

Addie Said, “Funny Movies.”

Laurel Said, “Anything funny!”

And the next poll: In your room... would you rather have: (a) a brown bed frame with tan walls and a red stripe (b) a hot pink bed frame with light pink walls and a lavender stripe (c) a wooden bed frame with green walls and a white stripe Note: Please only choose one!

~ 31 ~

Written and contributed by Addie Imel

The Land of Fantasy

Part 2

Avery had just started with a ‘boring’ vacation and She thinks she has found a way to escape summer cleaning!

Chapter Two I Get Kidnapped By a Bedtime Story

I took the stairs two at a time as energy built up inside me.

“Mom,” I said, “can I go on a walk...you know just to start the day?”

“I don’t know honey, todays our big summer cleaning day,” my mom said turning from the dishes and smiling at her corny joke again.

“I know, but I’ll be back in half an hour. I just read in this one magazine that it’s very healthy and refreshing to take a walk every morning before you start your day.”

“Well, if you really want to I guess you can. Promise you’ll be back in half an hour?”

“Yeah.”

“All right, honey. Here’s some water to take along,” my mom said, handing me a bottle of water.

“Thanks!” I said and dashed out the door. I had a guilty feeling as I walked toward the abandoned house. I didn’t lie, I really did read in a magazine that it was healthy and refreshing to start your day of with a walk. And I really was going to be back in half an hour.

Suddenly I realized that if anyone happened to glance out the window they’d see me.

Without thinking, I ran into the abandoned house.

“I could have at least brought a flashlight,” I muttered.

The abandoned house was...well, abandoned. There were hardly any windows, and where there were some they were all covered in dust. Mice scurried out of the half decomposing couch.

~ 32 ~

“How-” I gasped, “oh,” I said, smiling sheepishly at the mound of threadbare blankets that had looked like a person. I carefully walked around the floor, testing each board before I put my full weight on it. I didn’t question Mom’s safety reasons anymore. Suddenly, the door flew open. Standing in the door way was a boy that looked about my age. He was a little taller than me, with hair so dark it was almost black.

“Who are you and what are you doing here?” he whispered.

“I have the same questions for you,” I said, trying to stand taller and look confident, “but if you insist I’ll answer yours first.”

The boy just stepped in, closed the door, and stared at me.

“Fine.” I sighed, “I’m Avery and I live in the house over there,” I said, gesturing in the direction of my house. “Now what about you?”

“Uh...Daniel,” he said.

“Umm...where do you live? There’s not really any other houses around here.” I pressed for more information.

“I guess my parents live at the bed and breakfast...I kinda live there too.”

“Oh.” “You know,” he blurted out, “I wouldn’t eat there if I were you.”

“Umm...yeah, I never really have.”

“That’s good.”

“So, you come here often?” I asked, trying to strike up a conversation.

“Yeah, pretty much every day.” Daniel said, “Hey, have you seen the upstairs bedroom?”

“No, I just got here.” I said, “But I want to!” I added quickly.

Daniel led me through the kitchen. I could tell he had been here before because I was the only one tripping over everything. Once I stepped on a un-sturdy floor board and my foot went through it.

“Uh.” Daniel said staring at me, my foot caught in the floor. I blushed with embarrassment and hoped that the house was too dark for him to notice. We had a real fun time trying to get my foot out of there.

The staircase was another problem. I regretted my choice of having a second glass of orange juice...hopefully I was still light enough to not fall through to the basement. It wasn’t really a staircase at all, more like a few balancing beams. Don’t look down, I thought. I looked down.

“Sooo...this is it?” I asked.

“Well, it’s not really the room. I guess it’s something that’s in the room. Do you like books?”

Daniel asked.

“I like books...” I said carefully. I was having some second thoughts about Daniel. He was...strange. And he liked random questions and comments. Yeah, like I said...strange.

“But, I can’t be hear long. I mean, I have to get back to my house...my mom’s expecting me to do some spring...er, summer cleaning.”

Daniel looked at me like I was crazy. He raised one eyebrow, “Summer cleaning?” he asked.

“Uh...my mom made it up. Not me. It’s like her little joke. I mean, I don’t think it’s funny.” I said awkwardly, my face burning with embarrassment.

The room was just like the rest of the house, falling apart. It was dull and gray, with dust covering everything. When I stepped into the room a sudden warm feeling washed over me. It was almost like I was in a trance. I can’t really describe it very well. It felt...peaceful. It

~ 33 ~

was like I could smell a spring breeze and hear birds singing. I shook my head, trying to snap out of it.

“What is this place?” I asked, pinching myself and shaking my head again. I looked over at Daniel. His face was pale.

“I d-don’t know. I-it usually isn’t like this,” he said, looking frightened and trying hard to keep his eyes open. He stepped toward a book on a stand in the back of the room. I followed him.

“Someone else has been here...it wasn’t open before,” he whispered.

“What’re you talking about?” I questioned, panic rising in my throat, “Look, I don’t know what this is but I have to go home. My mom’s going to get worried.”

Daniel didn’t listen to me. His face was glowing and he kept walking towards the book.

Suddenly I heard a faint humming\singing sound. It was beautiful and I found myself walking closer to the book. Every step I took forward I felt lighter, and the humming sound grew louder. I looked over at Daniel, he looked like he was moving in slow motion. I felt like I was being pulled toward the book. I tried to resist, but the pull was too strong. I gave up, and there was a blinding flash of light. The humming noise grew so loud it was defining and then, everything went black

~ 34 ~

“God’s Friday” Pamela Kennedy

Mary, sighed and leaned her head back against the rough wall of her house. When the two distraught disciples had come rapping at her door that Jesus had been arrested and taken to high priest, she had wrapped herself in her shawl, suddenly chilled. After their departure, she sank down upon a small wooden bench near the doorway. Jesus had built the bench years ago when He was just a boy in Joseph’s carpenter shop. She ran her fingers along it’s smooth edges, smiling slightly as she recalled His pride when He presented it to her. So many memories tumbled through her mind. She raised her eyes and watched the myriad stars shimmering in the black sky. They seemed to be spinning, spiraling in the darkness, drawing her upward , upward and back in time to another night, long ago. It was over three decades past, and she was a girl once more. Alone on the rooftop of her parents’ home, she sat and gazed at the stars above Nazareth, dreaming of her marriage to Joseph. And then the angel Gabriel appeared with his astonishing news.

She remembered his every word and now quietly repeated her response: “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.” She recalled a star-filled night in Bethlehem less than a year later when the angel’s promise was fulfilled and Jesus was born. The joy of that evening was soon overshadowed by another, darker night. By pale starlight, Joseph, she and the baby had fled Herod’s wrath, running for their lives through Sinai’s wild desert toward the safety of Egypt.

So many nights, some filled with wonder, others with pain, had passed since then. She closed her eyes and sighed once more. What would this night bring? She did not fear the darkness, for she had learned long ago that God is light and in Him is no darkness. But she also knew that men preferred their own darkness to God’s light. Where was her son now? Into what darkness had they taken Him? She remembered the song she sang long ago as she shared Gabriel’s news with Elizabeth.

“My soul praises the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the mighty one has done great things for me-holy is his name.” ~ 35 ~

She opened her eyes and looked into the vastness of the night, The Lord’s greatness and blessings were both precious and painful, yet she would not have traded a moment of her life for that of another. And now, the Lord was asking her to walk with Him in a new path, As if reaching out in obedience once again, she lifted her hand toward the heavens and whispered, “I am the Lord’s servant.”

She sat thus, still as a statue, until the pale shimmer of dawn crept over the hill tops and pushed its way slowly into her awareness. In the shadowed street she glimpsed a woman hurrying toward her.

“Mary!” the woman called, and Mary recognized the voice of her sister. Standing, she received the wife of Cleophas with a warm embrace. “They’ve taken Jesus and held a mockery of a trial,” her sister gasped between breaths. She wrung her hands and continued, “Even now they are dragging Him before Pilate, begging for His crucifixion! Do you think we should go to Him? Mary stiffened as if pierced with a sword and grasped the other woman’s hand. “We will remain here and pray. The Lord will tell us what we should do. Some, dear sister.” Quietly they went inside and knelt together on the hard floor.

They were there when the Apostle John came to the house hours later with the dreadful news. The time had come. Quickly they pulled their shawls over their heads and hurried with him to Golgotha. Mary stood in the midst of the crowd, yet she felt alone, staring at her oldest Son. She recalled His first steps, His first words, the way He ran to show her the precise symmetry of a butterfly’s wing, or the smooth-grained beauty of a well-made table.

Her love silently reached out to Him above the din of the shouting crowd, and He slowly turned His head as if in response to the cry of her heart. She raised her arms toward Him and caught His eyes with her own. It was as if her grieving soul calmed in that moment.

Time stopped, and all the fragments of the past thirty-three years fell into place: the annunciation, the prophetic words of Anna and Simeon, the escape and return from Egypt, the words Jesus spoke in the temple when He was only twelve, His teaching and miracles, His prayers and healings. These and thousands of other words and images suddenly coincided in an eternal tapestry, and Mary realized the truth. This execution on a barren Judean hillside was no accident of evil perpetrated by mere men. In that moment Mary saw the fulfillment of God’s perfect plan. Through the sacrifice of Christ’s death would come the long-promised hope of everlasting life. When she had spoken her own words of obedience as a girl, she had not known all that they would mean. But when she heard Jesus say, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit,” She understood the price of ~ 36 ~ commitment.

When the terrible darkness of the afternoon lifted and the figures on the three crosses were still, Mary allowed the Apostle John to lead her gently down the hillside to her home. She assured him she would fine and urged him to go comfort the others. That night she sat again on the bench Jesus had made as a boy, looking out at the shimmering stars, knowing what the others would soon discover. This day was not an ending but a beginning. She leaned back against the wall of her house and closed her eyes. He fingers slowly traced the straight, smooth edge of the bench her son had made, and she smiled as she drifted into sleep.

Them Ol’ School Days Hana Knicely

My brothers and I went there every day, Even if we wanted to stay home and play. We’d have to leave at 8:03—James, John, Joe and me. We’d dilly-dally along the way as if we had half the day!

Then we’d hear the school bell sound, and our feet would barely touch ground! We’d reach the door in time to hear, the teacher’s voice stern and clear! “Come in boys; you are late.” Then we’d tremble violently and wait. He’d pull out his stick, thick and curved, and give us the punishment we deserved. Then he’d send us to our chairs, where we received half a million stares! I was mad as a yellow bee, I was so mad I could hardly see! So I decided to pay him back, for gentleman manners I did lack. As soon as he sent us out to break, I hurried down to the lake. I found a toad, brown and green—it was very fat (it wasn’t that lean). Then I hurried up the trail with the toad in my pail.

The teacher wasn’t there anymore, so I slipped the toad into his drawer! When everyone came back in, on every boy’s face was a grin. All the students took their seats and the teacher reached in to get his sheets. The toad jumped high and teacher did too—he was so mad his face was blue! The blackboard cracked and the ink bottle tipped, then all of us boy’s bottoms were whipped. Finally when it was time to go out all of us boys began to shout. Then I grabbed a knife from Dick, he got me back with a bone-breaking kick! Of course a terrible fight was started, and my nose bled and smarted. The teacher gave each of us boys a smack—I forgot and smacked him back! Then the teacher sent me away, and that was the end of the day…. Next day we arrived at 9:00~ 37 ~ I’ve told enough; I think I’ll stop

The Computer Swallowed Grandma The computer swallowed grandma Yes, honestly its true She pressed 'control' and 'enter' And disappeared from view.

It devoured her completely The thought just makes me squirm She must have caught a 'virus' Or been eaten by a 'worm.'

I've searched through the 'recycle bin' And files of every kind I've even used the 'Internet' But nothing did I find.

So if inside your 'Inbox' My Grandma you should see Please 'Copy,' 'Scan' and 'Paste' her And send her back to me!

- Author Unknown

Jessie Swihart Stay with me, Spring, do not depart! Your presence has so touched my heart! Was your grass ever so green? Did it ever smell so Fragrent and clean? Were your delicate blossoms on the bough Lovelier then those in the orchard now? Stay with me, Spring. It has been so long since the frozen earth was thawed by song. ~ 38 ~

A Song of Spring ~Nora M. Bozeman April sings a song of spring, and dances on a bluebirds wing. Daisies raise their heads to view, A cloud-draped sky of azure hue.

Shiny dewdrops dress the days, In gowns of silver-sparkled rays. Breezes rustle newborn leaves; and wrap them in wind symphonies.

Sometimes sunshine, sometimes showers; Bathe and nurture budding flowers. As April sings a song of spring; and dances on a bluebird’s wing.

~ 39 ~

His Princess My Princess… Be my light to the world today!

I stepped into your darkness so you would shine for Me. Did you know that I have empowered you to light up the lives of everyone around you? You are My light to the world. So walk with Me, and let me illumine your life today with My love and My power. Look to Me, and I will make you the bright spot in someone’s darkness today. Don’t hide your light beneath your uncertainties and insecurities. Spend more time with Me and I will make you glow with a godliness that’s irresistible. If you will let Me, I’ll make you shine in such a way that you will be My star that points to heaven and brings hope to the hurting.

Love,

Your King and true light of the world

~ 40 ~

The New Theme Verse for Forever His Princess

“You did not choose me; I chose you.�

John 15: 16 NIV

Verse For Month: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up their wings as eagles: they shall run and not be weary; and They shall walk and NOT faint. Isaiah 40:31

~ 41 ~

A Christlike ExampLE Author Unknown

A few years ago a group of salesmen went to a regional sales convention in Chicago . They had assured their wives that they would be home in plenty of time for Friday night's dinner. In their rush, with tickets and briefcases, one of these salesmen inadvertently kicked over a table which held a display of apples. Apples flew everywhere. Without stopping or looking back, they all managed to reach the plane in time for their nearly missed boarding. ALL BUT ONE !!! He paused, took a deep breath, and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl whose apple stand had been overturned.

He told his buddies to go on without him, waved good-bye, told one of them to call his wife when they arrived at their home destination and explain his taking a later flight. Then he returned to the terminal where the apples were all over

the terminal floor. He was glad he did.

The 16 year old girl was totally blind! She was softly crying, tears running down her cheeks in frustration, and at the same time helplessly groping for her spilled produce as the crowd swirled about her, no one stopping and no one to care for her plight.

The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table and helped organize her display. As he did this, he noticed that many of them had become battered and bruised; these he set aside in another basket. When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl, 'Here, please take this $40 for the damage we did. Are you okay?' She nodded through her tears. He continued on with, 'I hope we didn't spoil your day too

badly.' As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered blind girl called out to him, 'Mister....' He paused and turned to look back into those blind eyes. She continued, 'Are you Jesus?'

He stopped in mid-stride, and he wondered. Then slowly he made his way to catch the later flight with that question burning and bouncing about in his soul: 'Are you Jesus?' Do people mistake you for Jesus?

That's our Destiny, is it not? To be so much like Jesus that people cannot tell the difference as we live and interact with a world that is blind to His love, life and grace.

If we claim to know Him, we should live, walk and act as He would.

KNOWING HIM IS MORE THAN SIMPLY QUOTING SCRIPTURE AND GOING TO CHURCH. It's actually living the Word as life unfolds day to day.

You are the apple of His eye even though we, too, have been bruised by a fall. He stopped what He was doing and picked you and me up on a hill called Calvary and paid in full for our damaged fruit.

Submited by: Victoria Martin (check out her magazine! Email her at: victoria.b.martin99@gmail.com!)

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the ~ 42 ~ shadow of the Almighty Psalm 91:1 – submitted

by Adrianna Ropp Follow my blog! www.lifeathome2000.blogspot.com.

Hide It In Your Heart

Matthew 28 Verses 1-15NIV

28:1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

5 The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.

Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."

8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13 telling them, "You are to say, 'His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.' 14 If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." 15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

~ 43 ~

Contest! and the winning story is: A Baking Disaster By: Denise Amstutz!

One day Nina wanted to bake a cake. Her mother had told her she could but to come and ask her if she had any questions. “I won’t need mothers help,” Nina thought as she found the recipe for the cake. She got the big mixing bowl down and got to work. “First I need 2 cups of sugar,” she said. “Next 2 cups of flour.”

Then she put the coffee on. Then she went back to her mixing bowl. “Now did I add the baking soda yet?” she wondered. “I think I did but I better put a little more in just in case.” Next was salt then eggs. “Oh I hate cracking eggs,” Nina said to herself, “But I’m not going to bother Mother.” She got 2 eggs out of the fridge and set them on the counter. She cracked two eggs into the bowl and set to putting other stuff in. But not before fishing numerous egg shells out of the mix!!

As she finished adding the rest of the ingredients the coffee finished brewing. She brought the hot coffee over put a cup into the batter. “Oh I forgot to turn on the oven,” she quickly went and turned it to 350*. Then she finished stirring up the batter. When she was done mixing she poured it into a cake pan and waited for the oven to preheat. After it did she pushed the cake in the oven and set the timer for 40 minutes. After the 40 minutes were up Nina ran to check her cake. “OH NO!! MOM!!” Nina hollered. “What’s wrong dear??” her mother asked. “My cake, it’s all over the oven!!!” Nina replied. “Well it looks like you have added to much baking soda,” her mother replied. “Ugg what a disaster,” Nina said, “now I have to clean out the oven.” “I suggest you better get started,” Mom replied, “I’ll help you,” “thanks mom,” Nina said as she gave her mom a hug.

Good Job Denise! Keep Writing! ~ 44 ~

Designing Contest: Note: Please vote when we send out the outline- not before! Thanks!

# 1.

#2

Letitia Wadel- Age 14

Sylvia Yoder- Age 12

~ 45 ~

Fun Facts A crocodile may swallow several pounds of stones to act as ballast in its stomach as it swims through the water.

The European grass snake “plays possum� when attacked, lying still with its tongue hanging out.

Did you know Polar Bears are left handed??

If we were able to breathe underwater, we would need to take 450 breaths per minute to get enough oxygen, instead of our typical 15 breaths per mi

~ 46 ~

Brain Buster

Find out what the bird was? ď‚­ The Answer is: An

adult, Yellow Billed Cuckoo from High Island, Texas!

Want another hard one?

An insect’s blood takes how many minutes to circulate completely through its body?!

~ 47 ~

Wonders of Creation

Chickadee A bird almost universally considered “cute” thanks to its oversized round head, tiny body, and curiosity about everything, including humans. The chickadee’s black cap and bib; white cheeks; gray back, wings, and tail; and whitish underside with buffy sides are distinctive. Its habit of investigating people and everything else in its home territory, and quickness to discover bird feeders, make it one of the first birds most people learn.

Size & Shape This tiny bird has a short neck and large head, giving it a distinctive, rather spherical body shape. It also has a long, narrow tail and a short bill a bit thicker than a warbler’s but thinner than a finch’s.

Color Pattern The cap and bib are black, the cheeks white, the back soft gray, the wing feathers gray edged with white, and the under parts soft buffy on the sides grading to white beneath. The cap extends down just beyond the black eyes, making the small eyes tricky to see.

Behavior Black-capped Chickadees seldom remain at feeders except to grab a seed to eat elsewhere. They are acrobatic and associate in flocks—the sudden activity when a flock arrives is distinctive. They often fly across roads and open areas one at a time with a bouncy flight.

Habitat Chickadees may be found in any habitat that has trees or woody shrubs, from forests and woodlots to residential neighborhoods and parks, and sometimes weedy fields and cattail marshes. They frequently nest in birch or alder tree.

~ 48 ~

The New Members!

Kristina Smoker Age: 14 Birthday: December 31, 1998  State; Country: PA, USA

Breanna Reinford Age: 13 ½ Birthday: June 28, 1999 State-Country: Nevada, US



Kara Weaver Age: 12 (turns 13 this month) Birthday: April 23, 2013  State-Country: PA, USA

~ 49 ~

The New Members!

Reagan Nicole Strite Age: 14 Birthday: March 20,1999 State, Country: Georgia-USA 

Harmoni Ropp Age: 13 Birthday: August 12, 1999  State/Country/town: Minnesota, USA, Bemidji

Aili Burlando

Name- Claudia Esh

Age: 11

Age- 19 Birthday- May 23, 1993

Town, Country: Canada

~ 50 ~

Sneak Peak The Next Theme: Butterflies!

Since we didn’t get the theme done in March, we’ll try to get it May!

The Feature For Next Month: Paint Lady Bug Rocks Question: If you could create your own flavor of gum, what flavor would you create?

~ 51 ~

Last Note:

A special welcome to the new members-and we are very glad you are here:)!

For you who like designing- We are going to try to do some experimenting here : ) At least every other month or even longer we are going to have what we call

“guest designing” We might assign you a page to experiment on and see how well you do! We will only pick one person. If you are interested please ask!

If some of your contributions aren’t in this issue-don’t worry! They will most likely be in the next magazine. This magazine had a lot of contributions which I thank you for- however we ran out of room for all.

I would also any appreciate suggestions on themes!

IF you have any questions don’t hesitate to email!

I hopefully will be able to send out the outline in the next couple of weeks.

I believe that is all girls! Have a wonderful month April! And May God Bless You! Elisa Rose Knicely Editor/designer

Submission Guidelines Please write as if it was going straight into the magazine: Because that’s exactly what is going to do. Incorrect punctuation Is not corrected. Please send in your name; and age when you send in submissions!

Thank you! ~ 52 ~

Tell !

your

Friends!

FHP Form Name: Age:

Birthday: Email address: State/Country/town: Picture of you: Sibblings:

Thank you! ~ 53 ~

-Forever His Princess Staff