Strong Faith
I was just coming out of English class when my dad came up to me and said we had to go home. I didn’t understand at that moment but then he said Jamie was leaving for San Diego for basic training. I felt my heart drop into a million pieces in an instance.
I went by the office to sign-out and I saw my mom crying. She came to school to pick Kristi and me up to bring us home to see Jamie before he left. I remember being in the car starting to tear up. I didn’t want to believe that it was true. I was excited for Jamie because this is what he always wanted, but I wasn’t ready for it and when I got home, I knew he wasn’t either.
I walked in the house, grabbed something to eat, and sat at the computer. I saw Jamie come up from downstairs and I burst into tears. He came up to me and hugged me. I really didn’t want him to see me crying because I wanted him to see me strong. Jamie was even holding in the tears, he wanted to be as strong as anyone and then my dad said to just let it go. It is ok to cry, it is healthy. So, Jamie did. He burst into tears at that moment. I remember sitting at the table, holding in the rest of the tears, just watching my dad and Jamie hugging and crying. I have never seen my dad cry before, I knew this was going to be a huge change for our family. Zach wasn’t home, so he wasn’t able to see Jamie before he left.
“Why did it have to happen now?” I asked myself over and over again. He was supposed to be home for Christmas, now he wasn’t going to be. I wasn’t ready for it to happen so soon. All the plans that we were going to do were just crushed in the dirt. I have never felt so alone in my life. I knew this was a big change and that it was going to be ok. But, I felt alone, even with all my family around me.
Then, Pastor Bob came over to read us some verses before Jamie left. Pastor Bob read Joshua 1:9. “Which says, Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” After that, Jamie mentioned that he read that verse the night before, just about 24 hours before that moment. That gave me comfort that this was meant to be. It was in God’s plan and everything was going to be all right if I just trust God and be strong and courageous.
Then I got back to school because Jamie and my parents had to go into Willmar to say their last goodbyes before Jamie went with his Marines officer who took him to the cities to fly off to San Diego, California to start basic training. But, when I got to school, I had to go to a yearbook meeting and then after that I had to go to a basketball game. During the yearbook meeting I couldn’t handle it anymore. I left for the bathroom. When I got there, I let all those bottled up tears go. I balled my eyes out. Angela Broten came in and comforted me until I could be ready to face the rest of that day and the rest of my life.
I learned later, that in March, Jamie would have a graduation from the Marines, and there was a big possibility that my family would be able to fly out to see him graduate. That possibility became a reality. On March 21, my whole family flew out to see Jamie graduate from the Marines. It was the best thing that I had ever been to. Jamie told us also that if he had never left when he did, he would have not gotten the job of guarding the White House.
I know now that God had everything in His amazing plan. I had courage and I was strong. Whatever happens with the rest of Jamie’s life and mine, I know I can go to God and trust Him because He has everything planned out for my life. Joshua 1:9 is my new favorite Bible verse of all time. All I need is strong faith that God gives me.
Lillie Hankel
Friday, May 20, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
Horses
The Wild West Horses of America
Strength and power. Mustangs, the free-roaming horse of the North American West. The free, wild, heart-beating horse. The descendants from the first horses and the horses still to come. The top of the list for wildest horses is the mustang.
When people think of the Wild West, they usually think of cowboys, Indians, saloons, poker, war, and death. But, really the Wild West is not made up of that, it was made and founded by the horse. Mustangs are the wild horses. They founded the West more than just cowboys riding them but founded it as the ground we walk on. Their hoof prints left the newly ground. They marked their territory with their hoof prints. They made the mountains beautiful. Their breath created the wind that flows throughout the mountains and plains. As they run and make a sound, they make the world to be perfect.
The history of the Mustangs is very interesting too. Mustangs are the free-roaming horses of America. They are called wild horses but the proper name is “feral horses”. The English word “mustang” comes from the Mexican Spanish word mestengo, meaning stray livestock. Mustangs were brought to America by the Spanish. The first Mustangs descended from Iberian horses brought from Mexico and Florida.
They were spread very quickly throughout Northwestern America. Native Americans quickly took the wild horses to train them for using them for finding their food and for easier wars. The Native Americans said that horses replaced dogs and what they use for them. Dogs were still used but horses improved everything a lot. In the United States, Congress recognized the mustang as “living symbols” of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West, and which continue to be the spirit of the West and of the American people.
Wild horses or mustangs can live anywhere in the United States really. Mostly though, they live in the mountains or down in Arizona or Texas. They mostly live up in the mountains in Montana or Wyoming.
But really the history of the West were all lies. The history of the West was written by the horse. Wherever there was a foot print there was a hoof print right beside it. There was one strength that could not be tamed in the West: wild horses. The settlers there could not keep them because the settlers needed them so their herds wouldn’t starve. So they destroyed them, almost wiping them off of the face of the earth. Lucky for us some still survived though, living deep in the mountains, starving. We need to protect them, they give us hope for the future, for the promise of what America used to be and could be again. Starting to come back, they could bloom like wildflowers.
They have a destiny just like all of us do. They have courage to do what man could never do, live. They want to be free just like we do. They have the strength and power to live, so, let us help them live their destiny and feel free.
Lillie Hankel
Strength and power. Mustangs, the free-roaming horse of the North American West. The free, wild, heart-beating horse. The descendants from the first horses and the horses still to come. The top of the list for wildest horses is the mustang.
When people think of the Wild West, they usually think of cowboys, Indians, saloons, poker, war, and death. But, really the Wild West is not made up of that, it was made and founded by the horse. Mustangs are the wild horses. They founded the West more than just cowboys riding them but founded it as the ground we walk on. Their hoof prints left the newly ground. They marked their territory with their hoof prints. They made the mountains beautiful. Their breath created the wind that flows throughout the mountains and plains. As they run and make a sound, they make the world to be perfect.
The history of the Mustangs is very interesting too. Mustangs are the free-roaming horses of America. They are called wild horses but the proper name is “feral horses”. The English word “mustang” comes from the Mexican Spanish word mestengo, meaning stray livestock. Mustangs were brought to America by the Spanish. The first Mustangs descended from Iberian horses brought from Mexico and Florida.
They were spread very quickly throughout Northwestern America. Native Americans quickly took the wild horses to train them for using them for finding their food and for easier wars. The Native Americans said that horses replaced dogs and what they use for them. Dogs were still used but horses improved everything a lot. In the United States, Congress recognized the mustang as “living symbols” of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West, and which continue to be the spirit of the West and of the American people.
Wild horses or mustangs can live anywhere in the United States really. Mostly though, they live in the mountains or down in Arizona or Texas. They mostly live up in the mountains in Montana or Wyoming.
But really the history of the West were all lies. The history of the West was written by the horse. Wherever there was a foot print there was a hoof print right beside it. There was one strength that could not be tamed in the West: wild horses. The settlers there could not keep them because the settlers needed them so their herds wouldn’t starve. So they destroyed them, almost wiping them off of the face of the earth. Lucky for us some still survived though, living deep in the mountains, starving. We need to protect them, they give us hope for the future, for the promise of what America used to be and could be again. Starting to come back, they could bloom like wildflowers.
They have a destiny just like all of us do. They have courage to do what man could never do, live. They want to be free just like we do. They have the strength and power to live, so, let us help them live their destiny and feel free.
Lillie Hankel
Celebration Essay
Angela Broten
Strong, powerful, hilarious, sweet, kind, short, beautiful, the best friend, faithful, and so much more. When I think of those words, I think of Angela Broten. Angela is someone that anyone could look up to. I did and I still do, always.
Angela, where do I begin? Angela is one of my best friends. She is four years older than me but that doesn’t stop our friendship. I have known Angela since I was in fourth grade. In other words, pretty much my whole life. Now, Angela is extremely short. I shot past her so fast. She has gorgeous long, dark, brown hair, her eyes are a deep green, teeth perfectly white and straight, and did I mention that she is very short? Angela was raised in a Christian home her whole life and she has three siblings. She is also the second to oldest. Angela graduated from C.M.C.S in 2010. Now she goes to Crown College.
I picked Angela for a very special reason. The impact on my life that she has given me is incredible. She is so strong with everything she does. When Angela has her mind set on something she does it and she does it until it is done. Immediately when I met her I knew she was amazing and she could change the world. Her faith in God is so strong and powerful. She trusts Him in everything that she does. Now, I am sure she has doubted Him sometimes because we all have but she never gives up on Him. I look at her and see someone who I want to become. I want her faith and trust in God so much. I know I don’t have as much faith as she does.
Another reason why I picked Angela is because she is totally herself. I know what Angela is like and she is the funniest person to be around. She is always smiling and happy, she has never had a bad picture in her life. Still, Angela is herself. With all her craziness she doesn’t act differently in any way. She has taught me to be myself. To not care what other people think of me, just to care what God thinks of me. Whenever I am with her, I feel so safe and cared about. She never puts you down or says anything mean about you. Angela is so caring of others. She chooses her words wisely and thinks before she speaks.
As soon as I told her that I was writing this essay in her, she told me she was undeserving of it and that she couldn't see why I would want to write about her. I told her,” I wrote my essay on you, cause you changed my life. “She might not have realized it but she has. Angela has taught me many things in life. She doesn’t realize it, cause it wasn’t all verbally, but by her actions. They way she speaks, dresses, and acts made the difference for me. She has this sparkle in her eye that changed me and who I am today.
Finally, she gave me a gift. It wasn’t a gift like a present on Christmas, but it was a gift spiritually. She made me realize so much about God that I didn’t know. From our little talks we have and not all the time it would be about God. We could be talking about clothing or a movie star that we liked or something way different and by her words it would get to me.
Angela has this power in her that is so amazing. She might not see it herself, but other people do, I did and still do. Angela is someone that has the capability to change anyone or even the world. She changed me. It might not have been in the biggest way, like I am a preacher or something, but she changed my heart, like how I act and respond to things. I would trust Angela with the world or anything that I had. Angela gave me courage to be me and to stand out for who I am.
When I see the words strong, powerful, faithful, and all the others, I think of Angela Broten. Angela is the friend that anyone would want to have. Angela is one of the best friends that I could ever have.
Lillie Hankel
Strong, powerful, hilarious, sweet, kind, short, beautiful, the best friend, faithful, and so much more. When I think of those words, I think of Angela Broten. Angela is someone that anyone could look up to. I did and I still do, always.
Angela, where do I begin? Angela is one of my best friends. She is four years older than me but that doesn’t stop our friendship. I have known Angela since I was in fourth grade. In other words, pretty much my whole life. Now, Angela is extremely short. I shot past her so fast. She has gorgeous long, dark, brown hair, her eyes are a deep green, teeth perfectly white and straight, and did I mention that she is very short? Angela was raised in a Christian home her whole life and she has three siblings. She is also the second to oldest. Angela graduated from C.M.C.S in 2010. Now she goes to Crown College.
I picked Angela for a very special reason. The impact on my life that she has given me is incredible. She is so strong with everything she does. When Angela has her mind set on something she does it and she does it until it is done. Immediately when I met her I knew she was amazing and she could change the world. Her faith in God is so strong and powerful. She trusts Him in everything that she does. Now, I am sure she has doubted Him sometimes because we all have but she never gives up on Him. I look at her and see someone who I want to become. I want her faith and trust in God so much. I know I don’t have as much faith as she does.
Another reason why I picked Angela is because she is totally herself. I know what Angela is like and she is the funniest person to be around. She is always smiling and happy, she has never had a bad picture in her life. Still, Angela is herself. With all her craziness she doesn’t act differently in any way. She has taught me to be myself. To not care what other people think of me, just to care what God thinks of me. Whenever I am with her, I feel so safe and cared about. She never puts you down or says anything mean about you. Angela is so caring of others. She chooses her words wisely and thinks before she speaks.
As soon as I told her that I was writing this essay in her, she told me she was undeserving of it and that she couldn't see why I would want to write about her. I told her,” I wrote my essay on you, cause you changed my life. “She might not have realized it but she has. Angela has taught me many things in life. She doesn’t realize it, cause it wasn’t all verbally, but by her actions. They way she speaks, dresses, and acts made the difference for me. She has this sparkle in her eye that changed me and who I am today.
Finally, she gave me a gift. It wasn’t a gift like a present on Christmas, but it was a gift spiritually. She made me realize so much about God that I didn’t know. From our little talks we have and not all the time it would be about God. We could be talking about clothing or a movie star that we liked or something way different and by her words it would get to me.
Angela has this power in her that is so amazing. She might not see it herself, but other people do, I did and still do. Angela is someone that has the capability to change anyone or even the world. She changed me. It might not have been in the biggest way, like I am a preacher or something, but she changed my heart, like how I act and respond to things. I would trust Angela with the world or anything that I had. Angela gave me courage to be me and to stand out for who I am.
When I see the words strong, powerful, faithful, and all the others, I think of Angela Broten. Angela is the friend that anyone would want to have. Angela is one of the best friends that I could ever have.
Lillie Hankel
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