I stand on the plateau and look down. On the left hand I see the twisted and mangled bodies of those who fell. Poor souls. They trusted in their own strength. On the right hand I see those who continue to climb. Some occasionally slip back and some fall even as far as the deepest part of the valley, but all lift holy hands to the heavens in a petition for grace before pressing forward. I have made it across the Jordan River and now I am at the home gates. God is good. God is faithful. I do not deserve to be in this place. I can reach out and touch the Light of heaven from where I stand.

he tries to touch me
but I shrink away
his eyes are watching
accosting me

my skin shudders
as he spits rhymes
and sweet words to the girl
on my left

she’s laughing
but she doesn’t know
what he did
last night

he does not have
good intentions

I don’t know
how to tell him
to back off

Purpose
Your life has a purpose
Don't ever complain
You must push ahead
Your grumblings are vain
God's given you this day
You must make it your own
All you do and say
Is heard at the throne

Temple
Your body is a temple
Please keep it clean
Furnish with fear, tremble
For God is your king
Purify and make way
Sacrifice your desires of self
Clean them all out
Every one on the shelf

[this has been redacted for possible publication. I will repost if it doesn't get into the college lit mag.]

The kingdom where I've come
Is under fire
The place where I've been planted
Is in a war

So, Lord, please

Stretch me over this kingdom
When rain drops fall
Bend me into a solid wall
Too tall to climb

Thicken my skin to bare
Each arrow
Strengthen my walk so
I may lead

When it feels I'm called to Ninevah
Lord, keep my gaze upon the innocents

Keep whispering in my
Upturned, waiting ear
"Thou art come to the kingdom
Just for this"

Dear Lord with this I now draw near;
A burden given me to bear.
For strength I ask with my whole heart
That I might carry all, not part.

I am faulty, willing but weak,
That is why Your strength I seek.
So on Your Almighty name I call
Lest under this heavy weight, alone, I fall.

But not quite alone for in silence I hear
That still small voice sounding in my ear.
Reassuring, powerful, sweet and strong;
In my aching heart You give me a song.

[this has been redacted for possible publication. I will repost if it doesn't get into the college lit mag.]

July 4th, 2009
Dear Journal,
Today was a good day. The Grays invited Mom and I to go to a fireworks display with them. I sat with Josh and Kelly. When the fireworks started Josh tried to hold my hand so I slapped his hand. He said he was just being friendly so I told him that I didn't like that kind of "friendly" and that if he wasn't careful I would have to stop being around him. So he went back to his old way of being friendly, which I like much better. Kelly just glared at him and told him to leave me alone. She's pretty mad at him for the way he treated Courtney.

Math is simple. 1+1=2, 2x2=4, 3-1=2. 4/2=2
Or at least, it is to begin with.
Find the derivative of the following functions: f(x)= (x +sin x)^23
Nobody jumps right from the former to the later. There are steps, processes, from learning the numbers and the basic principles, to decimals and fractions, with lessons in geometry and basic algebra before tackling the rigors of calculus. You have proofs in geometry, listing the rules that allow one to define congruent and similar angles.

June 24th, 2009
Dear Journal,
Mom just told me that she would buy me a phone since I'm gonna be babysitting a lot. She said it would be good to have it, just in case something happens and I need her. I'm glad because people make me nervous. Even nice people. I guess it's because there have been so many bad people in my life, even the ones that started out as nice people. I feel safer when I'm at home alone than I did when someone had to stay with me while Mom worked. I never told Mom because I don't want her to feel bad. She can't help it.
Kennedy