As the song by Templeton Thompson says, “What is it with girls and horses?” I don’t know what it is or why God chose to make it like this, but I also don’t know what I would have done if He hadn’t.
At about eight, I was like a lot of girls my age – horse crazy. It started with horse models at a friend’s, and then progressed to my first week of horse day camp, where I learned the basic stop and go and cemented my new obsession on the back of a placid sorrel named Cassidy. For a few years, I only got to ride five days out of the total 365. But I was busy in the meantime, collecting horse magazines, saving my money, learning all I could, and scouring “horse-4-sale” websites.
In – well, I think it was my third year of horse camp, I met KC. I thought there could never be such a dreamy horse. He was a Paso Fino, so his gaits were really smooth, and that dark bay color matched with the white star on his forehead…oh man, I was in love.
I wasn’t the only girl who loved KC, however. He had a certain charisma, because when the camp girls were hanging out and talking in the barn, there would always be a few using KC as a headrest. I was always one of them. There was an even informally formed “KC fan club”, which had three sole members. It was hard to love KC, because everyone got to ride him, and lots of people wanted to do so. He was a popular horse.
The spring after year 3 of horse camp, I cranked up my online searches for a horse. Because of KC, I had become a Paso Fino fan, and I found a pony in that breed named Princess. She was only $500 and she came with all her tack. WOW! I showed her to my parents and we went so far as to e-mail the owner twice. I was ecstatic – at first. Princess had some problems. The owner said she had some problems tacking up, and also, she was a pony. Me, a girl who was taller than most of my friends, would be too big to ride her in a few years. But it was my chance, and I couldn’t let it go. I was at my grandma’s with my siblings at the time – we were having an overnight there. I had a lot of time to think, and the more I thought, the more I decided that Princess was not the Right One for me. I worried about what my parents would think, and the ordeal ended in a sobbing fest on my part, when they came to pick us up. Luckily, they had been thinking too and they had come to the same conclusion, so we passed Princess on.
It was Easter day, and we had just gotten home from my uncle’s house. I ran to the computer to check up on my new hot horse (that I hoped to buy). I hadn’t asked for Jack yet – but my parents knew that I wanted to. I scanned the world of Horsetopia but Jack was nowhere to be seen. I couldn’t believe it – just as I got hyped for horse ownership, the horse I wanted disappeared! I didn’t cry, but I moped for a few days and kept on looking.
That summer, I met an older man who lived about ten minutes from our house. I’d walk up to visit his horses and finally, he noticed me and we talked about horses and how he got his, and all that good stuff. He let me ride his draft, Rosie, almost every night that summer. Rosie was stubborn, too big for a saddle, and not exactly pretty, but I think she missed me when I was gone and she was a great one to learn on. It was the place where I really learned how to get a bridle on a horse. At horse camps and lessons, there are people to help you do things, so if you don’t get something on your first try, of course you’re going to wave for assistance. But when you’re all by yourself and the only way you’ll get to ride is if you can get a bridle on a stubborn old horse, you’re going to get that bridle on that stubborn old horse.
It was that time of year again! HORSE CAMP!!! I was going to get to see KC again. I got to ride him on the first day, and I couldn’t have been happier. But when I was riding another horse, I didn’t feel so happy. Prompted by one of my friends, I asked the camp director how much KC would be if they sold him.
$3,000.
Actually, more like $5,000.
I blinked back tears as I tried to laugh it off, but I made a secret resolution that I would save up that money, and I’d buy KC if it killed me.
I doubted myself, though. On Thursday, I was feeling sick, and I told my mom that I didn’t feel up to going to camp. She asked me if anything was wrong, and I told her about KC. Of course, almost everyone I came into contact with had heard about this dazzling and marvelous horse, but she got to hear about him again. I told her that riding didn’t seem like fun unless I was on KC, and that I was worried I was beginning to not like horses. It doesn’t seem like anything serious now, but at the time, I went through quite a few tissues. My mom told me that it was ok to like certain horses better than others, but that KC was needed at my camp. He didn’t have a special love for any certain camper – he just let them come and let them ride. Looking back, I think God made me stay home from that day of camp so that I could have that talk with my mom.
The next day was the last day of camp, which equaled the special “show” we put on for the parents. It was also my birthday. I got to ride KC for the show, and it was great – I love him so much. What a great horse. Then, I said goodbye to him, and my friends, and the camp helpers, and everything, and left the camp. I didn’t know it then, but was the last week I would spend there.
In the car, on the way to a pizza place we were going to celebrate – as was our custom – my mom and my grandma were asking me questions about camp. I could only give one-syllable answers because I was trying not to cry. When we got to the pizza place, I did start to cry, and my mom told everyone to go in ahead of us. Poor Mom! If I was her at the time, I’d tell me to just suck it up. 
“I want KC, but he’s $5000, and I’ll never be able to save up that much, and…”
Mom shook her head. “Honey, you’re not going to get KC.”
I cried hard for a long time, but finally I composed myself enough to go in and eat. The pizza tasted great, and my mom had gotten a few videos of me on my dream horse!
Thus ends part 1 of my horse life.
April 2, 2010
God’s plan to save the world was written in many places. Knowing how much we humans enjoy cracking codes, he wrote his message in the names of ten of the most notable men who walked the earth. Check out the key to the code……
Adam means Man
Seth means Appointed
Enosh means Mortal
Kenan means Sorrow or Home
Mahalalel means The Blessed God
Jared means Shall come down
Enoch means Teaching
Methuselah means His death shall bring
Lamech means The Despairing
Noah means Rest or Comfort
If you read the name meanings all together, you’ll see a prophecy…that came true.
March 16, 2010
I am working on incorporating a whole new sub-plot into Torn Heart and the tangled plot was driving me nuts. I got scared that I would lose my character personalities while I was obsessing over outline organization. I ended up writing down all the questions in my head and answering them through the characters. This makes me laugh because six good guys and one bad guy are in a councilroom together discussing what they’re going to do. Yeah, I know it’s outnumbered, but my other bad guys would not cooperate in that situation. 
I’ve posted it here just for fun….understand that it is just for fun and its not going in the book.
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Jacha looked around the circle. “Why wouldn’t Lark try to kill me? He’s supposed to be cruel, right?”
Lark chuckled. “I don’t believe you should be the one asking that question, sweetheart. It sounds quite odd.”
“Well, I escape, so…”
“The way I see it,” Kiann interrupted, “Is that he’d be too levelheaded to think about killing you. He’d kidnap you, maybe, but why would he dirty a clean sword blade while cutting off your head like a crazy person?” He paused and glanced at the gaunt figure across the table. “Isn’t that right, Lark?”
“Hit the nail on the head, young man.” Lark gave an engaging smile. “Now if only you didn’t have to come along and rescue her, the story would be almost perfect.”
Kiann’s jaw clenched. He stood up and jabbed a finger in Lark’s direction. “I don’t care if you do drop bundles of swords at our doorstep, you can just – “
“All right, let’s stick to the outline.” Michach slapped his hand down on the ink-stained sheet of paper before him.
Jacha fidgeted on the hard-backed chair. She didn’t want to be stuck in this cramped room discussing plans for the future. She wanted to go out and ride. “Why does Kiann have to rescue me?” she muttered. “Couldn’t I just dodge Lark by myself?”
“It won’t be just Kiann, Jacha. Michach and Oren will be there as well.” Mala laid a soothing hand on the girl’s shoulder.
“But – ”
“Enough!” Michach boomed. “Jacha, you know you learn to like him eventually, so just go along with it.”
Mala laughed at her husband’s words, but Jacha glared at Kiann and he stared coolly back.
Blonde Silke took charge. “Next on the agenda, everyone. I think we should bring food to Greenlodge before Jacha is admitted into our cell group instead of after. That way our kindness can be established and it can serve as a test to see if she’s loyal.” She surveyed them with serious blue eyes. “All in agreement, give a show of right hands.”
Suprisingly, everyone raised their right hand.
Next, Lark stood to address them. His gaunt figure loomed over the table, and just for a moment Jacha felt a flash of fear. What if things didn’t go as planned and he did try to kill her, instead of just kidnapping?
“When am I exchanging messages with Jacha?” he asked.
Michach consulted his papers. “It says here in the outline you’re doing that after Jacha confesses to us.”
Lark shook his head. “Let’s move it up, somewhere before I save her from Vorrda and consult with him.”
“Why?” Jacha demanded.
“Because I believe it fits better there, sweetheart.”
Jacha jumped to her feet. “Would you stop calling me that? You do it in the book too, and it makes me mad.”
“That’s my point, dear one. Is everybody in agreement with my little switch?”
No one objected, so approval was taken as a given.
Oren’s left eye was graced with a sudden spark of mischief. “Shall we elaborate on the scene where Silke and I kiss? The kiss itself only gets one line in the book…”
Michach’s eyes went from his blushing daughter to grinning Oren and he lifted his eyebrows. “I believe it’s fine just how it is,” he said drily.
Everyone laughed, including Silke, though she tried to pinch Oren’s arm under the table.
“Say, where’d Kiann go?” Jacha asked. She had realized that the red-headed boy’s seat was empty.
The others sprang up from the round table and pushed their way to the door.
“Really, him being out in the sunshine while we’re locked up in this dusty councilroom. Come on!” Jacha burst out and took a breath of fresh air.
“I doubt you’d be able to bring him back even if you tried,” said Michach.
“I’m up for a try,” said Jacha, laughing.
Behind them all, the smudged outline fluttered to the floor.
March 11, 2010
A few weeks ago in our writing club, the Inkblots, we were discussing how our beliefs come out in our writing. To illustrate, we did a survey of sorts so we could compare our answers with our writing. Here are my questions.
1. What do you think is the most important virtue in a man?
Standing up for what he thinks is right.
This is evident in my novel – Torn Heart – with both men and women. After all, part of a rebellion means the people are rising in order to to uphold their own beliefs, correct?
2. What do you think is the most important virtue in a woman?
Friendliness – willingness to accept everybody
I think this comes through in Torn Heart as well. The main character, Jacha, doesn’t know how kind people can be until she settles in to spy at a country farm. The people there, the mistress especially, all instantly accept her for who she is and welcome her into their home.
3. What offense are you slowest to forgive?
Slandering me (talking bad about me behind my back)
I can’t think of any example of this in Torn Heart. Betraying isn’t exactly the same thing as slandering.
4. What offense are you fastest to forgive?
Um…maybe some kind of physical injury.
This was a hard one to answer, but I don’t think this is portrayed in my story, either. At one point, one of the villains wounds Jacha and it helps her see that his side is the wrong side. However, he wounded her deliberately, and in the above question, I meant an accidental wound.
5. What kind of story do you like to write the most? (Not genre, but theme)
Friendship/Character growth
Torn Heart is definitely all about character growth! Jacha starts the book as a wary, timid animal out for herself, and ends the book…well….you’ll see for yourself if I get it published.
So this didn’t work out perfectly – I didn’t get all affirmative answers – but the opinions in my head about virtues and story themes at least worked out right. It worked enough to illustrate the point: that because I’m a Christian, my Christian views should come out in my writing. If they don’t, it will be a clue to me that I need to spend more time in the Bible instead of my fantasy books.
March 5, 2010
I forgot to mention to everyone that I am now a published author. Not my novel, just a short story, but it still counts. My story, “Who to Trust” is featured in the Spring 2010 issue of Young Christian Writers Magazine.
I also got my first rejection slip from the contest I entered with Torn Heart. That’s okay, it only opens my eyes to improvement and I’m busy trying to weave in a new subplot.
“Don’t spend your time in the rain just looking for the rainbow – haven’t you ever realized how beautiful a raindrop is?” – Me
March 9, 2010
Hello, everyone. Just a note to keep you reading.
I entered a writing contest last year with “Torn Heart” and I was supposed to hear back on February 2, whether I had won or not. I didn’t hear back, so I assumed my entry had been lost, and I e-mailed them to ask about it. Today, they e-mailed back that the winners would be announced the first week of March. I’m glad I’m still in the contest, but I have to deal with more suspense now.
I’ve also been toying with the idea of writing a sequel to “Torn Heart”, as I don’t want to leave that world behind just yet; and I also have a good idea for the sequel. I started outlining, so we’ll see if I have time for that along with all of my other writing projects.
I’m also learning how to play the banjo. My dad is too. It’s really fun so far – bluegrass has risen on my music categories list. Yes…bluegrass is GREAT!
Well, I’ll talk more later.
“It will keep him most occupied, most occupied indeed….” Alpha, “Up”
February 6, 2010
While racing around the arena at a breakneck trot today, I decided that riding is a little bit like life.
First of all, in riding there’s a delicate balance between relaxing and staying on. You have to learn how to tighten and calm your muscles at the same time for the most pleasing effect. If you have a good seat and nice posture, you’ll be able to stay on if your horse takes a sudden turn or does something crazy.
It’s the same way with life, isn’t it? We don’t want to be uptight, but we also want to get stuff done and go with the flow.
Some riding days can be just really…amazing! But hey, let’s face it: it’s not like the movies. Neither is life. But life is better because its yours.
There’s one way I can think of that life and riding are (figuratively) different. In riding, you’ve got to be the one in control. If you’re not, you’re going to get thrown around like a rag doll. However, we tend to want to be in control in life, as well, and the rules are different there. We have to remember that God is the one who holds the reins.
“If you can’t be a good example, you’ll just have to be a terrible warning.” – Anon
February 6, 2010
