Madison-Sara

Week 3

even though i'm a teacher, i'll not be checking my punctuation much so that i can keep typing as if conversing with you. a bad email habit. i also found i don't hit some secret key that sends emails when i'm not ready to send them when i use the shift button.

you picked up on the bud & collie connection faster than i did. i wondered a little bit but sure didn't put the war connection. guess i was wrapped up in the tension building between Ray and him. i didn't find any account of yellow paint written in the story while they were at the coffee shop. guess i'm truly a visual person.

yes, it is humorous to see some jealousy in Barry. got a feeling he's learning a lot about what blessings he has - or had - and how he messed up in them. but sounds as if he will get a second chance. looking back at the time he received the phone call, i don't think i would have guts to go see who it was. may be a guy thing. anyway, if that ever happens i'll call the police. can you imagine what his mom will feel if barry decides to come forth with the truth? guess he will have to since Bud attempted to kill julie. hopefully they will be wiser in their futures.

i doubt if collie said anything to his sister. i'm guessing that with his war experience, he decided to quietly make his plans and carry them through. his sister seemed to be busy in caring for the home while her parents are away. do you suppose her mother will heal emotionally if the four kids confess? he wasn't thinking of what his plan would have repercussions on others... just as the four teenagers experienced last summerl

as i asked in my written page, what do you think happened to Helen? do you think she survived? is she scarred for life? hmmm, now that i've sent the book back, wish i had to refer to. I recall that helen was left on the ground. that seems to be one of my characteristics: i try to finish things up, send the matters on their way and then, have to go back to check something when i don't have it. happens when i clean out closets and files, too. one way looking at it is that i should be in control of what i'm in charge of, or what i THINK i'm in charge of. finding out that there are some issues and incidents that God needs to show His control, not mine. and do you plan to see, or have you seen, the movie?

sounds as if you and your prayer warriors are finding out about who's in control, too. you are experiencing at a local level what the american people are facing nationally. america was founded "In God We Trust", knowing that His laws were excellent guidelines to guide a new nation in 1776. but satan takes advantage of anything that looks good and fair for his interests. as we become more legalistic about things, satan takes "separation of church and state" to the extreme. we are to follow the rules and live peaceably but rules can be changed. many of our leaders need Christ's help and wisdom tremendously. your passion for prayer is amazing and i will offer a prayer that Christ's Holy Spirit will always be around you as you grow and mature. i had received the email prayer. i added a few comments within the prayer as responses to the unfaithful. yes, there is some sarcasm towards the unfaithful or at least those who yell the loudest. one of my faults that i must amend to be more Christ-like. although we can't argue about His feelings when the moneychangers made the temple a market.

i'm glad to hear that you can meet one day a week at the school. that way you will have the fortune to meet with fellow believers twice a week - sundays and prayer at school days. it's good to hear that mrs. shull will be your sponsor. did you know that she belongs to a group of women who are learning and practicing their writing skills in journals and creative writing to praise God? it sounds that God has opened a door for you and others to meet and share prayers and cares.

is it possible that you and your friends could meet at each others' homes or maybe solid grounds on other days to pray? i don't know what your "program" is, whether it is strictly prayer or you have a Bible study along with your prayers. i know that wendy, the owner of solid grounds, is a Christian and might welcome you if you are sincere - and maybe buy a smoothie occasionally ;-).

as for praying alone, i find that i communicate with Jesus more than i did. there is scripture that tells us to wait upon the Lord, to rest in His Word. I really hadn't done much of that on my own until i was diagnosed with cancer. now i'm amazed what HIs Word holds for all who believe in His Son, Christ. alone in prayer and reading the Scriptures, He becomes more personal, as a friend or brother, as He reallly is since i am a child of God. I also know that i have to be responsible for my belief and trust in Christ. i am not to forsake meeting and fellowship with others, but i must build my faith personally with Jesus and He wants me to be one-on-one with me all my moments and life. thirdly, it's a discipline thing, to make it a part of my day to stay strong in my faith and belief, just as athletes train and professionals continue studies to stay on top of their physical and occupational conditions.

due to low white blood cell and platelet counts, i had to get a transfusion thursday (may 6). i stayed home to recuperate, although not much to recuperate from. used it as a precaution to avoid any five-year-old germs getting into my body. hope to see the doctor monday so we can determine how much contact i can have with groups of people. i'll let you and mrs. shull know if i can make it. thank you for your prayers. yours and others who approach God with so many petitions have certainly been good intervention for my behalf.

God willing, i will see you next tuesday sara benton Sara Benton Madison Kinder =__ I Know What You Did Last Summer __= Chapters 6-12

Dear Sara,

I think that there is more than one main character, but if I had to choose one person, I would choose Julie. She seems to be the most talked about in my opinion. I think that by the end of the story Ray and Julie will be back together. She seems to be the most responsible out of all the characters in the book. She even went to the little boy’s house that they killed. She is really brave in my opinion. She doesn’t remind me of myself at all though. I was never one for cheerleading although I do like being in a lot of extra curricular activities. In that way we are a like. She used to be bubbly all the time before the accident. I am kind of “bubbly” I guess. I would definitely say my friends are more than me. She seems really serious. I’m really bad at being serious sometimes. The worst place is in Mr. Underwood’s room. When I get yelled at for giggling, it just makes me giggle more! He doesn’t mind to much though I suppose, or he would’ve sent me to the office by now. I think he likes me because I’ve gotten an A+ every quarter in his class so far. Julie seems to be very smart. I consider myself smart. I’m not as smart as some people, but I think I’m a good student. I don’t think Julie is very open though. She seems to be an introvert. I would’ve wanted to be her friend before the accident, but after she just doesn’t seem to be as fun and open. I would be her friend either way, but I would prefer the old Julie to the new Julie any day. I don’t think Elsa could’ve shot Barry. I know she isn’t the nicest person in the world, but I don’t think she is cruel enough to shoot someone. I also think that Helen and Barry will break up by the end of the story. I wonder who was the person who called Barry before he got shot. Everyone, even he himself, thought it was Helen, but she says it’s not, and she seems trustworthy.

I think Helen has self-confidence issues too. I almost think she knows her sister is right about how her looks can only carry her so far. I know Elsa is jealous, but there is truth in her words. Elsa is forgetting though that her sister can be smart and pretty. Elsa seems to just have a bad attitude. I think Elsa kind of likes Barry. It would explain why she was so jealous of her sister. I mean her sister is the beauty of the school, has the perfect boyfriend, and even though she dropped out of school, she holds a good job and lives on her own. I think something unexpected will happen in the book. Maybe the person who is doing this to Ray, Barry, Helen, and Julie is Collie. He’s the boy who lives in the same apartment complex as Helen. He seems really nice, but he’s also jealous of Barry for being with Helen.

How has the kindergarten program changed? I didn’t know that happened. I thought it was the same ever since I’ve been which I guess is a long time ago. I barely remember anything from kindergarten. I remember only about five memories. My teacher was Mrs. Hungsinger I think. I probably miss spelled her name, and I’m sorry if I did. She was very nice. I was taught at the kindergarten in Hidalgo. I really wish that school could’ve stayed open. It was one of my favorite schools that I’ve been too.

Today (which is April 27) was the first day our prayer group got made fun of. I knew it would happen eventually, but I was still so surprised that anyone would do that. I wanted to say to them that at least we had the courage to stand up for what we believe in, instead of putting others down. I didn’t though because I knew it would just start a feud that could be avoided. Still it surprised me when the people I thought were Christians didn’t go because they were ashamed to admit that they believed in God. I didn’t erg them to pray with us. I only asked. Most boys still won’t come. I don’t think they understand that if three of them went the others would follow. I never knew guys were so self-conscious.

I can’t wait to read the rest of our book. It’s really getting to be one of the many that I can’t put down. I can’t wait to finally get to meet with you at the Reading Rocks Party. It will be a lot of fun. I can’t wait to hear back from you!

Madison Kinder

Sarah Benton Madison Kinder //I Know What You Did Last Summer// Chapters 13-18

I really enjoyed this book. I first realized that Bud/Collie was the killer when Ray and Bud went out to eat. They started talking about Vietnam. Then I realized they were the same person. I guess it took me a little while to catch on. I’m a little slow. I knew it was Bud, Collie, or Elsa who knew, but I couldn’t figure out who it was until the end. I think Ray and Julie are really cute together. They are just something else. Helen is a bit of a brat. She just thought that everyone wanted her. That is another part that made me think. I wonder if Collie told his sister (the one Julie and Ray visited with when they had “car troubles”) they were the ones who killed their little brother. Do you think he did? She seemed so nice to Julie though, but of course “Bud” was able to wait for the perfect opportunity to strangle the girl he has been dating. This book is just messed up. I don’t think anyone can harness that much anger and hold it in until the opportune moment. It’s just insane. One thing that I thought was kind of funny was Barry’s reaction when he thought Helen was seeing someone else. He was so angry! He thought he was the one who led the relationship so to speak. I just found a lot of humor in him realizing that he’s not “all that.” Today (which is May 3rd) is my birthday. It hasn’t been a very pleasant school day so far. I went to the office this morning because I was informed last week that we couldn’t pray in a group during school. I looked some things up on the Internet hoping that we still could if I could just talk to the principal. He said he was all for praying, and I believe him. He said we could pray in a group one a week as a club. I wasn’t satisfied. Of course I talked to him this morning again. I don’t know why I was hoping the law would change over night. I am just filled with a lot of faith. It upsets me a lot that a group of kids cannot pray together everyday. I can pray by myself all the other days of the week, but it was just so amazing to see a group of teenage Christians coming together and praying. My Grandma Sowers sent me this forward. A 15-year-old from Arizona wrote it. I like it a lot.


 * __ NEW School prayer: __**
 * Now I sit me down in school **
 * Where praying is against the rule **
 * For this great nation under God **
 * Finds mention of Him very odd. **

​ [left it out of american history studies]


 * If Scripture now the class recites, **
 * It violates the Bill of Rights. **
 * And anytime my head I bow **
 * Becomes a Federal matter now. **

[don't they remember that's how many early americans learned how to read?] Our hair can be purple, orange or green, **
 * That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.. **
 * The law is specific, the law is precise. **
 * Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice. **


 * For praying in a public hall **
 * Might offend someone with no faith at all.. **
 * In silence alone we must meditate, **
 * God's name is prohibited by the state. **

[they haven't realized that america's blessings are from God]


 * We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks, **
 * And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks... **
 * They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible. **
 * To quote the Good Book makes me liable. **

[they should be thankful that someone can read it and the unfaithful have their hearing]


 * We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen, **
 * And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King. **
 * It's 'inappropriate' to teach right from wrong, **
 * We're taught that such 'judgments' do not belong... **

[more teaching of what's right would minimize what's wrong. and we all learn from mistakes, hopefully to avoid them the next time they present themselves]


 * We can get our condoms and birth controls, **
 * Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles **** .. **
 * But the Ten Commandments are not allowed, **
 * No word of God must reach this crowd. **

[now that's true discrimination!]


 * It's scary here I must confess, **
 * When chaos reigns the school's a mess. **
 * So, Lord, this silent plea I make: **
 * Should I be shot; My soul please take! **
 * Amen **

[well, the Lord did say that we would be persecuted for our belief. He knew it and warned us.] thankfully, He does overcome. it's hard to know and accept that overcoming includes being resurrected after our deaths, to have an eternal reward, when there is so many good things here on His earth that bring what we love and enjoy in living.

I put in on my locker at school. Mrs. Shull says that she will be our sponsor for our “club.” I’ve accepted it now. Our world is absolutely crazy. A lot of other students are really upset about it too. Many of them want to form a petition. I told them that we cannot do that. We are not fighting against our school board. We would be fighting against a greater form of government. We would be fighting the constitution. It does upset me. I am going to look more up about what I can do. I’ll just have to see where the Lord takes me.

I finished my //Do Hard Things// book. It was really good. I cannot wait to see you at the party. I have been praying for you every night before I go to bed. I hope you are feeling better.

Madison Kinder