Spring Break Week

Hello there all!

This week, as you could tell by the title, was spring break week. We had a blast. My dad took me and my sisters up to the Duluth area during an ice storm. We had a blast and really had a good prayer life while driving under some dipping power lines and sagging trees. Also, we had a project fair yesterday that went SO WELL!Granny and Grandpa, my friends from church, and Botso and J all came to cheer me and my sisters on. There were many cool projects and a lot of people. Thank you to everyone who showed up to support me and my sisters and everyone in our homeschool co-op.

I give my presentation on Split Rock Lighthouse to Granny and Grandpa and J.

Me and my very good friend from church.

Split Rock Lighthouse after the ice storm. THANKS! In Christ, Kaye Ann Silver

Kira's Birthday

Okay...

I am a total dog lover. Those of you who know me know this to be true. After being away from my dog for a while, I'll "pet anything that's fuzzy... even a tree with soft leaves!" as Mamo said once after being away from her two gorgeous goldens for a week. She is a fellow dog lover.

I know that the bottom two pictures aren't recent, but she sure is cute.

This being said, I just thought that you all should know that it is our family's dog's 5th birthday tomorrow. My sister L's birthday is on the 13th and my sister J's birthday is April 29th. My goodness! Birthdays Galore!

I can hardly believe it, though. It seems like two days ago my mom walked in late carrying her and we all just loved her from that moment on.

I love my dog.

Kaye Ann Silver

Awesome, Amzing, Life-Changing Movie

Hey there everybody! I was just on my email and I got this movie from youtube on it. I watched it with my mom and it was amazing. It shows the love of Christ and how sin tries to overcome a Christian. It is truly amazing. The video was filmed at a youth conference and it made me and my mom cry. The story it shows is so true. I ask that you take five minutes and watch this. You truly get a picture of how much Christ does for us. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyheJ480LYA Our God is so good. He loves us more than you or I could ever imagine. Kaye Ann Silver

Back from the Lake

Back from the lake with many pictures. These are only a fourth of all of the photos I took while we were up there. It was a blast!

Birds Buzzed the Feeder Every Morning while we were up there. I bet that there were as many as a hundred birds in their front yard alone!

Birch Grove

The Slanting Tree

Just an idea of how tall the trees are up there. I only got half of the trees in this picture!

Looking Up at Mr. Porcupine

Three Sisters on a Log

The Log Climbers Inc.

Mr. Porcupine

(if you knew our family's dog Tori, this porcupine was as big as her!)

Ms. Tessa after a Mouse

Blue Shadows

The Road Less Traveled

Across the Pond

Hidden Canoes

My sisters and Mamo

Lake in the Woods

The Hidden Trail

The Birch Gateway

Sunset

Sunset again

Fuzzy, but cool picture.

Hey there everybody!

I just got back from the lake two days ago and I took A LOT of pictures. Here are some of my favorites!!!!

All of these (except for the bird feeder one) were taken in the woods that are directly across the street from Mamo and Papa's house. The man who owns the woods lets my grandma and her dogs walk in there because they aren't up much. The land back there is AMAZING. There are three lakes hidden in the woods, fox dens and lots of deer tracks.

We had a ton of fun up there. I think the highlight of the week was to get to spend a lot of time with our awesome Mamo and Papa (and seeing the Lightning play hockey says my sister M).

Alright. See ya!

Kaye Ann Silver

They Really Do Respond

Hey there everyone, especially all you book people out there. I don't know if you have read the Inheritance Cycle Series by Christopher Paolini or not, but if you haven't, I HIGHLY recommend them. They are a great series of books that I really enjoyed. There is only one downsides to it. Paolini really takes some characters and names from J.R.R. Tolkien. They are an awesome series that really grab and keep your attention. I honestly couldn't put any of them down. The last book isn't out yet, but that's alright. I hope that it's out soon though. Anyway, I mailed Christopher Paolini a letter telling him that I really really really would like it if he didn't just kill off Eragon (the main character) or Saphira (his dragon) at the end of the book because they goofed up or made a dumb decision like so many authors do. I sent it out and thought that I would never recieve an answer. I didn't really think about it for a month until I got a letter in the mail HAND ADDRESSED AND MAILED to me from Christopher Paolini's HOUSE. WOWOWOWOWOWOWOW!!!!!!!! The letter was typed out to me specifically instead of just one of those 'just print another one off' letters. He signed it and responded that he would keep the characters in a good line but that their fates were set. I was so excited I didn't know what to say. It was HAND ADDRESSED AND MAILED, SIGNED AND ADDDRESSED MY LETTER SPECIFICALLY!!! I was shocked. It just goes to show that if you ever get published, you should respond personally to the letters you recieve. I'll say it now: if if if if IF I am ever published, I will, on my word, respond to the letters I recieve. Thanks, Mr. Paolini. You made my day. Kaye Ann Silver "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds. For you know the testing of your faith develops perserverance; and perserverance must finish its work so that you will be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4

Welcome to Minnesota

It is hard to believe that it was 52 degrees, sunny and warm as spring today when it was -20 degrees only a few weeks ago. I am so anxious for spring... We have truly had a Minnesota winter. Only two days (Jan. 2nd and today) were above freezing. Wow. Tonight I am going to be a slug. That is my new word for describing myself on Saturdays and Sundays. Actually, I wasn't really a slug today. I helped my dad outside and just soaked up the warm sunshine. I also took my dog for a walk around the pond in our neighborhood, made cookies, and just smiled at the warmth of it all. I'm a little jealous of my Mamo and Papa who are in California and Granny and Grandpa who are in Mexico. I can hardly wait for them all to get back and share the pictures and stories from their travels. Please keep a friend of mine in your prayers. I am not going to give you names or details, just pray that she gets through this tough time and that I am able to reach out and assist in any way possible. I just finished the front side of a quilt that I hope to finish later this week. In February, my sisters and I are going to Mamo and Papa's for a week of sewing and woodshop-ing. It's gonna be a ton of fun. I should go help my sisters with dinner. See ya! Kaye Ann But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest upon me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 PS: no pictures yet, but there will be soon! Thanks!

Lazy-Dazy Sunday Afternoon

Today we have Church all day pretty much (except for well...three hours at home). We have all taken to reading our favorite books(me) or listening to books on tape while recording them on a digital voice recorder (L) or playing house (M). L just got a rock tumbler and so that has been a lot of fun for everybody. Yesterday my dad and L and M set it up and now it has to tumble for a week and then they have to change the powder and let it tumble for 3 days, change the pwder, tumble for a week and then it will be done. Whew! That's a long time. The only downer is that it is a bit noisy at night. L can hardly wait to see how her agates turn out. My mom got my sister M's mp3 player to work so that has been a hit all week too. So far she has all of the High School Musical songs on it, all the TobyMac CD's, and a few songs by Hawk Nelson. Me, I am waiting for some books I ordered (about 15) to come in the mail. They just can't seem to come fast enough. I am trying to gather all of the Left Behind: Kids series books because they are going out of print. After my oder comes in, I will only be missing 4 of the 40 in the series. I am very excited. Though I am a bit worried about my bookeshelf. The boards that the books sit on are starting to warp. I'm going to put some wood pieces in between each shelf to support it. Sorry, no pictures this time. I haven't taken any recently. Mamo and Papa bought me a new card for my camera that can hold 850 pictures. I am very excited about that. Thanks! Well....that's it for now. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him shall no perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 Kaye Ann

And a Happy New Year

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!! I am at Mo and Po's Cabin this week until the last day of this year. It has been a blast and tomorrow is going to be even more fun. L and M and Dad and Mo went tubing down a huge hill today. I watched with Po and Mom while they went up and down and up and down and up and down and up and down some more. They were out there for maybe an hour and a half. Add a two mile hike this morning and my sisters are two tired girls. My poor dog is having a fun time too. She is a poor puppy because oh darn there are other dogs that she has to share the humans with. Kira is a tired dog too. My goodness she has played and played and played with Mags and Tess. (The other dogs) Soon we will be settling down for orderves (is that how you spell it?) and Prince Caspian. I was blessed this Christmas with so much as was my family. My mom received a new Sunbeam mixer from my other Grandma and can't wait to use it. The greatest gift I received was a beautiful recipe book from my parents. Have a Happy New Year!!!!! Kaye Ann PS- I am going to send a letter to one of my favorite authors and I am hoping to get a reply. We'll see how this works.

Recent Photos

Here are the most recent photos I have taken. The girls are my sisters and the sunset was down at the park by my house. The one with my dad and my sister is when we were decorating our tree earlier this month.

I really like these photos because they are truly showing what concentration is like for my sisters. M needs to be completely focused , as does J. But L just sits very fairy like and smiles lightly as she works. The pictures of L and J are from when we decorated our gingerbread houses. 

NOTE: I could not get the pictures of J or L or the park. The computer is being very stinky and taking absolutely forever to load them, so I will be posting them tomorrow. 

There is also another picture of my dog in there. I just love her and really do think she is the sweetest thing since sweet and condensed milk. Kira is so cute. It is kind of sad to see the gray hair slowly creeping up along her chin. I don't consider her to be a old dog yet. After all, she is only 4 almost 5. I say that she has a good ten years left in her. We had  a small sad moment. We took out our stockings and there was T-Dog's. We all had a little sniffle at it being our first ever Christmas without Tookie Bell. (In case you were wondering, her real name was just Tori, but we called her so many other things.) 

L and J are having a mini-sleep-over, so Dad took M ice skating. Me and my mom have been at home finishing up some last minute gift wrapping. This morning, M was practically out of her skin excited about Christmas coming up soon and going to see all the relatives and opening gifts. She even tried to convince Dad that we should open two of our gifts tomorrow morning. It was really funny to watch that conversation.

We are all getting over colds and M is over Strep. Praise the Lord that no one else in our house got it! I am still without a voice and hoping to get some of it back by tomorrow. I feel so disconnected because no one can hear what I am saying unless I stand close. I was actually supposed to sing in our church's Christmas Eve services. Ha. Not happening. 

I got my book that I talked about in my previous listings bound today! Yeah! 

Bye Zee Bye 

Kaye Ann

It's Christmas Eve Eve!!!

Hello! I can hardly believe that it is already Christmas Eve Eve! (As said by Eloise in Eloise's Chirstmas... I love that movie so much!) Well, my family and I are quite busy this next week. I am praying that my voice returns soon so that I can talk to everybody and don't get them sick too. My family is staying home for Christmas and I am so happy! Not that I don't enjoy Christmas at our Grandparent's farm house, but it is just the security of feeling safe and at home where there are no coyotes and other animals staring in at you while you sleeping. (I am deathly afraid of all wild dogs, coyotes and wolves especially.) Last night I went bell ringing with some of my favorite people and had a blast. We were there from 3-8 and were quite cold. It was a ton of fun to sing and dance and freeze in the entrance to Byerlys. I had a blast! My friend Botso brought a nose flute that was absolutely hysterical and my friends from church brought out all these percussion instruments that were very cool as well. Thank God for good friends! Well, if I don't blog before Christmas, MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU! God Bless You this Christmas Season, and May You Remember the Real Reason to Celebrate: Jesus Christ. Kaye Ann

Ponderings...

Hey there everyone! My goodness! Is it already December 13th?!?! Today Mamo is coming down to see my family. I am quite excited and cannot wait until she gets here in a few hours. I have exciting news (well, I don't know if you'll think it's exciting, but I do). I have just finished my short story collection and printed and edited it all out and hopefully by January have it bound and ready to give away. I am so excited! The stories included in it are:

• There's More to Life than Cows
• Return
• A Sense of History
• Birdy
• English Tea and Rusty Trucks
• Just Down the Road
• Just the Epilogue
• Mr. Bayler's Cottage
• Sunrise
• Tale of Twin Cities
• The Lake House
• The Walk Around the Block
• Story of Trout
• Writers Block
• Tell the News
• The Brightest Star
• My Journey from Germany to the United States

Yikers that is a lot! The book is 57 pages long and quite heavy. I am so excited to get it bound and ready to give to whoever wants one.

God Bless You this Christmas!

Kaye Ann Silver

Merry Early Christmas

This picture is out of my grandparent's barn up north.

This picture is down the street from my house. This would be my dog.

This is a view from my grandparent's boathouse porch.

Same thing as above.

Hello there everyone!

I was just on the computer and decided that I should probably update my blog. Oh!

Here is my Christmas Story that I wrote for a class I am taking this year. It is in second person and has two main characters and was written as a childrens story. The ### just show that the story is switching to another person's (or star's) point of view.

Enjoy!

The Brightest Star

One dark night, in the vast sky above the city of Bethlehem, two stars named Sam and Igor sat shining, just like any other night. ### Sam looked to his right and sighed. What a gorgeous evening, he thought. He always seemed to sit a little straighter and shine a little brighter when the sky cleared of clouds and mist. Sam waited anxiously every night for the right time when he would get to shine. But every night Igor, his teacher, would always be the one in all the glory. “When will it be my turn?” Sam asked Igor every night. Igor always replied, “Soon, Sam. One day all will have their moment to shine, be it in ten years or ten seconds, everyone has a purpose that is greater than any we shall know.” He glanced up to the north and saw that Igor was starting to shimmer and blink as he had for hundreds of years. ### Igor’s purpose surpassed many of the stars in the Sky. He stood exactly to the north and helped to guide people to their destinations. Igor always shone brighter than the rest. He wasn’t proud, but did get a sliver of joy whenever the people on Earth said, “Just follow that North Star,” and all gaze up towards him. Igor sighed contentedly. Yes, he was quite happy to be the North Star and to always help guide the lost. Igor glanced downward towards the small, shaking star that was undoubtedly his student, Sam. He felt sorry for the little star and called down to him in his strong voice, “Sam. Your time to shine will come. One day, you will be known throughout the galaxies.” The small star stopped shaking and seemed to glow a little brighter. Igor so wanted Sam to enjoy who he was and have confidence in himself. ### Sam stopped shaking and smiled. He looked about him at the surrounding stars. Many of them formed constellations of dippers and horses, or great heroes and valiant warriors. His friends seemed content with their spots. If only I was, thought Sam. He quickly shook away his self-centered thoughts and continued to gaze over the surrounding countryside. Quite a few herds of sheep continued to graze in the fields while their shepherds watched. Loads of people still arrived at the city, anxious to find a room. Sam shook his head. Why were they so intent on moving so fast? Many carts wove in and out of the town and soldiers with red helmets marched in straight lines throughout the city of Bethlehem. So many animals were in the city that the stench of sweat and droppings filled the night sky and made Sam cringe. Couples and families stood asking for rooms at the town’s inns. Sam tried to single out one family or couple so that he could watch them, but the throngs still massed everyone and moved every person so quickly, it was impossible to single out one person in general. ### Igor watched the crowds. Many travelers had come to the town for the census. Even at his great height in the sky, he could smell the inn’s food and hear the laughter echoing through the town. He was about to speculate on what the humans were eating when he heard a great voice. “Igor, Great Northern Star.” Igor looked around him. He saw a muscular, tall figure with wings. “Yes, Michael. Here I am,” Igor answered the glowing angel. “The Lord God has sent his son, Jesus Christ who will save the World of Men down to earth as a child. Tonight in a stable, He will be born to a virgin mother who conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit here in the town of Bethlehem.” “Why, that is too wonderful!” Igor exclaimed. “What will you have me do in celebration to this great night?” Michael moved closer to him, his great golden wings shivering in anticipation. “The Lord God wishes to have a star placed over the spot where His Son will be born. I have been commanded to help you select a star.” Igor was ecstatic. When all the stars heard the news about God’s son being born right under Bethlehem, they all shimmered with joy and great expectation. After Michael and Igor explained why this was important to the stars and how one of them would get to shine brighter than even Igor was now, they all started yelling. “Oh, Michael! I am the brightest!” “I am the prettiest!” “Pick me!” “Igor likes me best so he will pick me!” “No he wouldn’t! I am the favorite!” A fight amongst the stars started. Igor shook his head and Michael frowned. The stars were in chaos. Except one. ### Sam sat still, not saying a word while the stars battled on. He was certain that he would not be chosen. He wasn’t the brightest, biggest, or most beautiful star. Sam’s light started to shrink. ### Igor was sick of the arguing. Michael looked about ready to draw his flaming sword to silence them. “My, wouldn’t that be wonderful”, Igor muttered. Then he noticed something. Sam sat still and shaking a bit from all the noise. Igor listened for Sam’s small voice in all the chaos but heard nothing. He got an idea. Igor beckoned for Michael to come closer and quietly whispered his idea. “I like it.” Michael declared. Then he turned back to the stars and swooped down next to Sam. No one noticed. ### Sam startled. What did this great angel want with him? Sam started to shiver even more. “Don’t be scared, Sam. For tonight you shall shine like the Great Northern Star, only much brighter. We have chosen you to shine above the Son of God.” Sam stopped shaking and beamed up at Michael. “T-thank y-y-you, Michael.” Sam stuttered. Michael smiled with great satisfaction. He drew his flaming sword which made Sam flinch and touched the top of Sam’s head. And Sam started to shine. He felt himself moving slowly towards a stable. When he rested on top of it, he could hear singing. Sam looked down and found that a shepherd group had come with their sheep to worship the new born king, Jesus. The virgin mother sat gazing at the king with tears in her eyes and her husband-to-be sat at her side. The baby Jesus turned and looked up through the straw that covered the roof and smiled up at Sam. Sam had never felt more blessed. ### Satisfied, Igor looked down on the city of Bethlehem and Sam Bright Star. His happiness for the young star was greater than he thought possible. Igor also rejoiced when the young King Jesus laughed and he could hear it echo throughout the heavens. Michael also seemed quite happy with his choice. He looked over at Michael who was still smiling largely and said the words that had comforted Sam every day since he had appeared below him. “One day all will have their moment to shine, be it in ten years or ten seconds, everyone has a purpose that is greater than any we shall know.” ### Sam could tell that he was shining very bright, brighter than any star. His sensations were ones of pure joy and great rejoicing. Finally, his moment to shine had come and its purpose was one greater than any other in the Universe.

"The Name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are saved." Proverbs 18:10

Love you, Uncle Jon.

Kaye Ann Silver