Girlfriend Gazette, Spring 2014

Girlfriend Spring 2014

Plus: your B&W Photo Challenge entries!

gazette

By Valerie Yoder

THE LEGEND OF

CANTERWELL The Journal of a cowgirl from Montana Make a Picture Frame Marker Board

THE INDEX

INDEX

In this Issue

8 Always be Joyful We have heard about the love of God‌ what reason do we have not to be joyful?

12 Melita from Montana A seven day journal of life and the simple things

24 The Legend of Canterwell In the Kingdom of Ringwood, there was of course a king. The king had a daughter named Zaria, and because Zaria was the king’s daughter, they called her Princess Zaria.

37 This is my Jesus Story - Away to Vietnam In just few minutes, we had added another adventure to our itinerary! There was one problem though. Just going to Thailand would drain all of our savings. How in the world could we afford to go to Vietnam too?

42 Picture Frame Marker Board A fun craft project you can hang in your room by The Flying Crochet Hook

MEET SOME OF THE CONTRIBUTORS Monica Miller | Editor | Layout Artist I am a work in progress. A redeemed daughter of the Great I Am. I love to dream big. I love to “make a joyful noise” in praise of Jesus. I love to laugh, glue, write, and design. I adore all things elegant, colors that are happy, God’s Word, stringed instruments, gifting-giving, pasta, classic literature, dill pickles, journaling, and mint tea. This magazine is one of my passions and pray that you are blessed!

Christy Barkman | Creative Assistant I am an people-person; outgoing and ready for LIVING. I desire to be a "little-Christ", one who does as He did, one who loves Him so much that nothing will come in the way of honoring and imitating Him. Learning to linger over little moments and love them to their core is my passion. Polaroid memories, worn journals and piles of pens, marked-up Bibles, COLOR, coffee-shop atmosphere and heart talks, thrift store shopping, interesting buildings, childhood pictures and videos, kindred spirits and paint samples are some of my favorite things.

Teresa Witmer |Column Writer I recently traded rugged Colorado for balmy California to marry my best friend. I enjoy listening to the sounds in our apartment complex, connecting with people, “journaling” on the piano, writing, and traveling to places where Jesus is not known. I have a lot to learn about what it means to follow Jesus and love Him - but am beyond grateful He has called me out of darkness and into His marvelous Light!

Savannah Knepp | Column Writer I live in Canon City, Colorado. I have three brothers and four sisters and am the seventh child. My hobbies consist of...shopping, sewing, crocheting, playing piano, talking, painting, drawing, crafting and reading. I love living life for what it is....a great big adventure! Finding the little pleasures in life and magnifying them makes me stupendously happy. I deeply enjoy long talks with close friends, a delectable cup of coffee or a really good book. Ladies like Elizabeth Elliot and Corrie Ten Boom have greatly inspired me. I love digging into God's word and being drawn closer to Him.

Valerie Yoder | Guest Writer I am the only daughter amongst 3 boys, (one older and two younger) which calls for some very crazy moments at times. :) And as much as I wish i had a sister, I wouldn't change the way things are for the world! I am 15 years old, and enjoy singing, reading, and writing! Ever since I can remember I've kept a journal. Just the thought of a sharp new pencil and crisp blank paper always made me happy, and still does! I also play the piano, and have even gotten into hunting this last year! :D Looking over my life, I realize how greatly blessed I am, and how none of this would be possible without God! He truly is amazing!

Cherie Barkman | Guest Storyteller| Guest Illustrator Cherie is 20 years old and currently lives with her family in Chiang Mai. Jesus saved her 13 years ago and has been carrying her along ever since. She loves family, cold weather, kindred spirits, faces, music, letters, and adventure--whether on top of a mountain, on a road trip, or in the pages of a book.

Kelci Miller | Guest Storyteller I was a Colorado girl till I moved with my family to Chiang Mai Thailand a little over a year ago. My life is now surrounded by a different culture and language and people who are just as important to God. I enjoy rain, playing Piano, having thought provoking discussions, doing random and fun things, and being with my family and friends. My desire is that as I continue on this journey of life I would grow to love my King more and more.

“In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith… may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” - 1 Peter 1

from the

Coffee Shop The coffee shop was quiet, only interrupted by an occasional loud greeting of “Sawatdii Krap” from the barista when a customer walked through the door.

We were at one of our favorite coffee shops, close to home, that has funky moose cartoons, comfy furniture and cozy corners.

In our corner, Christy was sipping a caramel latte, the usual, and Monica her chai yen. There was a lot of journal doodling and finger tapping going on; we were supposed to be working on magazine ideas, but weren't really coming up with anything.

All of our ideas were turning into dead-ends. Before long one of us realized, "Um, we never prayed before we started, did we?"

"Maybe that's what's wrong."

So we paused, bowed our heads, and asked God to show us what He wanted for this issue.

As we settled back into our seats, we started talking about what we're going through; life right now and all the things God is trying to teach us.

We talked about our own separate lives, but so many of our struggles were similar. Moving to Thailand; the adjustments and the fact things didn’t always click for us here.

We were tired of being discontent and grumbling, missing family and all the things that are familiar to us.

We didn't feel like we had true, over-pouring joy in our hearts.

But as we were talking, God began to show us where joy comes from. Monica flipped open her journal and read the verse that she had written in it that morning.

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

Psalm 16 He would make the path of life known to us, but it wasn't just that that would bring joy, rather, abiding in Him, rejoicing in the basic simple fact of us being IN Him, learning to grumble less and praise Him more.

Out of that conversation, we chose joy as the theme for this issue.

Joy; because it is part of our journey, now.

We never want to come across as if we have all the answers or that our lives are perfect and well-adjusted.

When we prayed, God knew what we needed to hear, which now corresponds with this issue.

May God be praised…. And may you be blessed and enjoy this issue of Girlfriend Gazette!

Joyful Always Be

By Valerie Yoder

Dictionary Definition: Joy A very glad feeling of happiness, great pleasure and delight.

I’d like to introduce myself before I start. Hi everyone! I’m Valerie Yoder, and I like to write!

But more importantly, I love God, and because I love God, everything I write will bring honor and glory to him!

I’ve been asked to write about joy, which is a broad topic; consequently, there are plenty of things that I will probably leave out. So here it goes! :) Joy. Such a small word, but yet is has so much meaning. “What is joy exactly?” It’s a question that doesn’t necessarily have just one answer. In the dictionary, the definition of joy is: “A very glad feeling of happiness, great pleasure and delight.” I love this definition.

It just sounds so. . .joyful!

and I quote, “Giving their hurts and pains to Jesus, and thanking Him for every circumstance.”

How have I experienced joy? Well, for me personally, I experienced joy when my mom became a cancer survivor! (Praise the Lord!)

We have heard about

the love of God… what reason do we have not to be

For example, a small child might experience joy when getting an ice cream cone or going to the park; however, an adult might experience joy by,

It’s really easy to get mad in this life (as we all know), but when you think about it, what reason do we have not to be joyful?

Consider this: we have a roof over our heads, and food on our table, while others are starving and sleeping on the side walks. We have heard about the love of God, and His plan of redemption, while others have never even heard Jesus’ name. Lets ask the question again. What reason do we have not to be joyful? Turns out not much reason at all.

joyful?

Everyone has experienced joy on a different level, and of course, in different ways.

The thing about joy, is that it can be felt in so many different ways. That’s what I like about it. A bride feels joy on her wedding day. We feel joy when we ask Jesus into our hearts, and that I might add, is the best kind of joy there is!

Let me make this clear though: I think that we would have a very hard time learning to be joyful, if nothing bad happened in the world. If there were only easy times, we wouldn’t know how to react when hard times come. Maybe that’s why God allows hard times--so we can learn a lesson from it, and learn to be joyful in everything we do.

“Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose it, and keep choosing it every day.” Another thing is, “We can’t cure a world of sorrows, but we CAN choose to live in joy!”

God doesn’t just want us to be joyful. He also wants us to spread joy to those around us.

There are two more quotes that I’d like to share with you because I love the way they describe joy. The first one is, “Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of ALL the details in my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be okay, and the determined choice to praise God in all things”. Those

words, to me, are simply beautiful.

Not only is everything going to be okay when God is on my side, but God is in control of every detail of my life!

It’s just a very comforting thought!

The second quote of the day is, “When you choose joy, you feel good, and when you feel good, you do good, and when you do good, it reminds others of what joy feels like, and it just might inspire them to do the same.”

God doesn’t just want us to be joyful. He also wants us to show joy to other people around us too. And then, like the quote says, other people will see our joy, and spread it on to other people. It’s amazing how one person’s joy can affect so many…

One thing that I found interesting while writing this article, was finding out how other people have experienced joy. For instance, my friend says she has experienced joy when she got a job with horses, and when her dog had puppies (she loves animals). My little brother says he experiences joy when he gets done with school early.

(And that is a joyful feeling!)

“Always be

joyful.

Never stop praying.

Give thanks in all circumstances.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16

First Thess. 5:16 says, “Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Give thanks in all circumstances.”

As true as that verse is, it very hard to do at times.

Well, I hope you got a little something out of this little “article of joy“, but if you didn’t, that’s okay; however, I will tell you, I learned something just by writing it. I never really had thought about it before. The way we act affects many. . .and I’m gonna ask for a raise of hands (well, since spreading God’s love to other people is one of you’re reading this, you don’t literally have to the reasons it’s so important to be joyful. From raise your hand)… how many times have you done the exact opposite of what that verse says? now on, I will definitely try to do better at applying joy to more areas of my life.

My hand is raised high! There have been times when I haven’t had a very good attitude about How about for the rest of this week, we make it something, or haven’t prayed on a regular basis. our goal to show love and joy to everyone around But then I think about the question I asked earli- us? And remember, “. . .We have to choose joy, er, “What reason do I have not to be joyful?” and keep choosing it every day.”

And while I may not like making salads, or doing the laundry and dishes, if I do it with a good attitude, then it spreads joy to other people around me. Like the previous quote said, “. . . they might be inspired to do the same.”

God bless you all!

Melita From

MONTANA e w a

o l ek

u o j ng

y b l rna

a t i l me

k c o r sch

The View from My Window

ME

My name is Melita Schrock.

(Sunday) Lori and Emily watching the Olympics

God called my family to Bridger, Montana, 14 years ago, and we still live here.

I have 6 siblings who are all still at home. (Ivan, Danny, (Sunday) Bow Me, Melody, Lori, Jimmy, and Emily.) I was homeschooled, graduated early, and took a creative-writing career course from home. Currently I am focusing on my horsemanship while working odd jobs in my community.

Sunday I woke up to songs about beaches and sunshine and surfing. When I looked out the window I was greeted by 6 inches of fresh snow. Sigh.

The whole family went to Billings for church: Faith Chapel- the most popular mega church around.

"Where two or three are gathered..." Or two or three thousand.

Mom and Dad stayed in Billings after church while all of us kids went home. It was a typical Sunday afternoon spent with food, movies, and the Olympics. Except that Lori's puppy, Bow, kept trying to sit on my head and wouldn’t go away. Lori finally had to call him off.

Monday We covered many discussion subjects at the breakfast table: Should we be grateful for everything or in everything? Should we arrest our run-away employees or hunt them down on our own? Should we sell

property? Go to Texas? Take personality tests? Go to a meeting at church? Work out? "Yes, I am perfect, since you asked."

I made bread which was more interesting than usual because Jimmy was hanging around. He sprinkled flour on me and tried to adjust my recipe. I had to blow flour at him to chase him away, and it coated some of his hair. "Jimmy, what the world?! You're too young to be turning gray!"

In the evening all of us kids played hockey in Red Lodge with the youth-group. Like one of the girls said, it wasn’t the life threatening experience it is some nights. The game was comparatively non -violent. My favorite part of the night was when I scored. I was so shocked and pleased that even the opposing team was smiling.

Tuesday

(Monday) Preparing for Hockey

I woke up to my cat, Sparky, jumping on my bed and showering me with hugs and kisses. He really does hug me. Wraps his little paws around my neck and cuddles against my chin. I can never decide if it's a sweet way to wake up or just annoying.

Then we started on the huge piles of laundry that stacked up because we were gone last week. I discovered I aggravated an old

(Monday) Breakfast Table Discussions

(Monday) Fresh Bread

injury in my knee. The house needed cleaned. And I felt worse than can be blamed on a week of late nights. "I am coming down with something,” I said, “And it ain’t true love." It could have been a lousy day, but Melody made me a great breakfast, Danny gave me a hug, and some friends stopped in to chat.

After supper, Melody, Emily, and I went to Laurel with Ivan to buy our single girlfriends Valentine’s Day gifts.

Someone mentioned that it may be more interesting to buy all our single guy friends gifts, but it didn’t seem very wise.

Wednesday

(Tuesday) Melody with a Valentines Monkey

We packaged Valentines gifts and planned the family party. The house has been decorated with teddy bears, candles, and red hearts for a couple weeks already. We are choosing to celebrate our singlehood. Or maybe we're celebrating friendship. Or just celebrating because we can. I haven't decided.

(Wednesday)

We had "Wednesday Meeting". We're not sure what to call it really, for it's too relaxed for church. We meet with friends in our home, sit in recliners, everything is open for discussion, and occasionally the dog and cat run through the meeting causing a minor uproar. This evening we talked about running our race well- running for the gold. Afterwards we watched the Olympics again. For inspiration.

Thursday We spent all day cutting wood. There were 14 of us today, all of us kids and 7 other guys. We had 2 stock-trailers to fill and we were working on a hill. One group worked on top of the hill cutting up trees and tossing/rolling the chunks to the next group who tossed/rolled them to the last group who were loading the trailer.

Overall it worked pretty well. It was exciting to work at the bottom with massive chunks of wood launching off a cliff at us. People were hiding behind trees and leaping away at the last minute. But eventually the wood would come to a rolling stop in a soupy mud puddle and we would heave it into the trailer.

We only had minor mishaps. Once I tripped into a bush when trying to escape a bounding log.

The log crashed in right behind me. I wasn't hit and we laughed and laughed and laughed. We were completely covered in mud by the end of the day, and the stars were out when we left.

(Thursday) Lunch Break

(Thursday) Tossing Logs

(Monday) Breakfast Table Discussions (Thursday) Trailers to Fill

(Wednesday) Lunch Break

(Thursday) “Timber!!�

Friday I watched Melody work on a puzzle, write a letter, sing, talk, and dance in her seat... All at once. I read the letter afterwards, and it was surprisingly coherent.

Lori and Melody are labored over Mom's hair and make-up for almost an hour. Mom and Dad were going out on the town for a Valentines date. We postponed our family party until Saturday so Mom and Dad could go out and we kids could go bowling with our friends.

It was a great group that went bowling. There was teasing and laughter and cheering going on constantly. That's what we go for; not the actual bowling. I got a strike on my last round and it made my night. I was kicking up my heels and whooping. It was very exciting. I passed Emily to come into a close third, and there were only 4 of us playing.

(Friday) Melody and Her Puzzle (Friday) Fun with Fri ends at the Bowling Ally

Saturday After brunch Melody, Lori, and I drove into Bridger in Jimmy's old truck. The girls went to the gym to work out while I cleaned the Methodist church. It was a beautiful day. Felt like spring and there was mud everywhere. We didn’t want to go home and finish our work, so we ate chicken nuggets at our shop in town. We also bought jalapeno crackers to eat on our drive home, and drove with the windows open. Just because we could.

The delayed Valentines party was a success, even though our family has divided feelings about the holiday. Half of us think that it is silly to celebrate a romantic holiday when we are all single.

And half of us think it is a good excuse to celebrate family, singlehood, and friends. And eat good food. And buy candy. And stay up late. Almost any excuse works.

No one complained though when Melody, Emily, and I served up a great meal with elegant table settings and candles. We slaved over the stove in high heels and dresses, then tried to keep everyone served and happy while they ate. Emily was the manager and she really pulled it off.

(Saturday) Emily Taking Charge in the Kitchen

(Saturday) Dessert

(Saturday) The Table Set with the First Course

In Conclusion…

It was a quiet week compared to the weeks surrounding it. I mostly stayed inside because of the weather, and we recovered from the previous week of traveling. But it’s really not the big activities that make life interesting, I discovered. It’s the little things and the quirky people I live with.

Life would be so boring without family.

(Monday) Breakfast Table Discussions

Chayil

Life as the Woman of

Proverbs 31

Dolores Miller

“She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.”

With heads bent together, the booth at the coffee shop buzzed. We were just shooting the breeze so to speak afterschool. Perhaps more correct wording would have been “we were gossiping”.

“Did you hear about....? What a mess...? I can’t believe…”

Then someone from the corner spoke. Ann. She was new to our group and it was then I realized she had not yet participated in the conversation. “But, did you know she regularly helps with her ageing grandfather?” She spoke concerning the victim of our words.

Silence. The gossiping was over.

Later, it happened again… it may have been an honest statement how someone mistreated me. But somehow, Ann, found a way to speak kindly of the person and to me, rather than enter into useless chatter that helped no one.

She could have told me to quit talking in a negative way… and I would have probably resisted and replied with an excuse… However, in her wisdom, she illustrated kind-

ness in her speech again and again.

I watched a growing trend with her.

Girls would go out of their way to share their hearts with Ann. My suspicion was that it wasn’t because she had a lot of answers, but rather they knew their heart’s story would be safe with her. She would never “pass it on” and her gentle graciousness was so healing.

Colossians 3:12 tells us kindness is something to “put on”. It doesn’t happen automatically. Ask the Holy Spirit to control your tongue, so only “kind words” flow from it.

Ann is a real person, I only changed her name and the setting.

Ann still amazes me… I’ve known her a long time, and she hasn’t run out of kind words yet. She probably doesn’t know how much she has taught me by her example. Her life has spoken volumes more to me than a thousand lectures on kindness.

“then I will go to the altar of God,

To God

my exceeding

joy

and I will praise you, my God.”

Psalm 45

the Legend of

Canterwell Illustrated by Cherie Barkman

Written By Cherie Barkman and Kelci Miller

Once upon a time (or so I’ve heard, though I was not there), there was born a villain. But the main part of the story is not the villain, so all you need to do is remember that he exists, as we move on to tell the story.

The king had a daughter named Zaria In the Kingdom of Ringwood, there was of course a king. The king had a daughter named Zaria, and because Zaria was the king’s daughter, they called her Princess Zaria. Every year on Zaria’s birthday, the entire kingdom celebrated their princess with gifts and songs and dancing, and most of all, chocolate cake. This was to honor the princess’ love for chocolate cake, the people’s love for the princess, and the people’s love for chocolate cake. This year, because it was Zaria’s thirteenth birthday, this dessert could be found on every street and in every house. But in the midst of all the busyness of guests and celebrations, the only person who never got a bite of chocolate cake that day was Princess Zaria.

Our story begins with Princess Zaria lying in bed at 1:02 a.m. The only noise in her room was the wind blowing in through the curtains, but Zaria wasn’t tired at all. She looked at her birthday gown draped over a chair and smiled to herself. Her father had picked it out himself for her thirteenth birthday—he

“There I was, talking to people all day, never getting a chance to taste my favorite food!” knew her best. Living with him here in the palace, she had the life any girl would want. What more could she need?

Suddenly, Zaria sat straight up in bed with a gasp.

“The whole kingdom has had chocolate cake today, except for me!”

Flinging off the covers, Zaria hurried to the door. “There I was, talking to people all day, never getting a chance to taste my favorite food!”

Tiptoeing as fast as she could, she made her way through the halls and corridors of the palace until finally she reached the big wooden kitchen doors.

She looked over her shoulder as she slipped inside, hoping none of the palace guards would catch her by surprise (or the other way around).

There it was! The beautiful remains of a chocolate cake lay on a plate in the middle of the counter. With one more glance behind her, Zaria pulled the whole plate to the edge and— “You thief!” came a shrill voice from the doorway. The voice startled Zaria so badly that she dropped the plate with a clatter and darted into the closest corner. A young girl in the doorway grabbed a broom and chased after Zaria, yelling for the guards at the top of her voice. Zaria ran for her life and found herself being chased around the kitchen counter and out into the hall.

She had only made one step before she was grabbed by a guard.

“I’ve got her!” he yelled, and the young girl appeared from the kitchen, waving her broom.

“Do you not know who you are stealing from?” the girl asked, leaning menacingly into Zaria’s face. “The King!”

“Who has stolen from me?” came a voice, just as light illuminated the room. Zaria cringed … she knew this voice anywhere. It was her father, the king, standing in front of them all with a candle in his hand.

His eyes found Zaria in the guard’s grasp. “What on earth are you doing with my daughter?” he roared. At this, the guard quickly released her, muttering an apology.

“I’m sorry, your highness; I heard that there was a thief, and so I did my duty.” He pointed to the young girl holding the broom. “This girl told me that she was stealing.”

The king looked at the girl, then back to Zaria. “Oh? And what were you stealing, Zaria?”

“Father, I was only getting some cake! I didn’t want to wake up the maids, so I decided to get it myself!”

After a brief silence, the king burst into laughter. “Thank you, guards; you may go.” Then he turned to the young girl behind Zaria, who was slipping

away into a corner. “But not you!” he said to the girl. “Come, what is your name?”

The girl fell to the ground in a bow.

“It’s … my name is … is, is Lizzy! But please forgive me, sire, I had no idea that she was the princess! I’m mortally sorry, sire!”

The king couldn’t help but laugh again. “Lizzy, is it?” he nodded to his daughter. “Zaria, meet your new personal maid!”

Most mornings, the sunlight woke up Princess Zaria, but today the events of the night before had taken their toll.

The sun was already high in the sky when she was jolted out of sleep by the sound of trumpets outside the castle.

The doors burst open, revealing a flustered-looking Lizzy. “Princess Zaria! Why are you still sleeping?”

Princess Zaria groaned. “I’m not anymore, thanks to you!”

“The prince is here, miss! Everyone must be downstairs to greet him right now!”

“The prince is here? What prince?”

Zaria sat up in shock.

“The Prince from the kingdom of Benedic! He has come on an unannounced visit. Hurry, the King wants you to be there!”

Zaria sat up in shock. “Now? How can I go meet a prince with no warning at all? I need thirty minutes to get ready, at least!”

“Well, let’s get you ready!” said Lizzy abruptly. She marched to the chair and yanked Zaria’s birthday dress off of it, then tossed it to the princess.

“There, put that on.”

“I can’t wear this! I wore it last night!”

Lizzy sighed in exasperation. “We don’t have time for this, miss!” She took the gown and pulled it over Zaria, nightgown and all.

“What are you doing?” Zaria screeched. Lizzy didn’t answer; she was busy pulling out her hair ribbon and wrapping it in Zaria’s hair.

“Just doing my job, miss.” With that, Lizzy grabbed Zaria’s hand and pulled her out of the room, just anoth-

er peal of trumpets sounded.

The two girls raced down the hall as fast as they could.

Zaria jerked her hand free from Lizzy as they ran. “You're supposed to be my maid! You can catch me and call me a thief, but not wake me in time to greet a royal prince?”

Just then, they rounded the corner into the grand entry hall. Without time to stop, they crashed into a large, suited man carrying a box of ashes. Princess Zaria ducked, but not in time to avoid a pile of ash spilling onto the back of her dress.

Suddenly, a loud, booming voice announced, “Prince Rolando Maximillian Peregrine Benedic the Third!”

The large man they had bumped into was still picking himself up off the floor. Princess Zaria quickly scooted backward to cover the box of ash behind her.

“Lizzy! Quick, stand behind me!”

Zaria hissed. Lizzy gladly did so, because the front of her dress was covered in ashes.

The prince had entered the castle, accompanied by his footmen, and was heading straight to the girls. He was older, Zaria noticed, disappointed, but still very regal-looking with his dark hair and waxed mustache.

He approached her and bowed, wearing a half-smirk on his face. “Ah, you must be the princess,” he said.

Princess Zaria bowed her head.

“Yes, Prince … Prince …”

“Rolando Maximillian Peregrine Benedic the Third,” he finished with a flare. “But most people just call me Prince Rolando Maximillian, for short.”

“But most people just call me Prince Rolando maximillian, for short.”

Zaria blinked.

“I’m only joking,” the prince chuckled. “It’s Prince Rolando.”

“Announcing the entrance of the King of Ringwood!” boomed the crier.

Immediately, everyone moved back to make way for the King, and bowed as he entered. Princess Zaria glanced nervously back at Lizzy.

“Don’t move, Lizzy!” she whispered.

“If we move, they’ll see the mess!”

The king walked toward them.

“Prince Rolando! To what do we owe this visit from the Prince of Benedic?”

The prince bowed deeply. “I am glad to be here. It is an honor to have the chance to visit the famous castle of Ringwood on my journey. I am on a quest regarding the Legend of Canterwell, you see, and I hope it’s alright if I rest here on my journey onward.”

“Of course,” the king replied. “The servants will show you to a room.”

“Thank you, sire. It was pleasant meeting you and your daughter.” With that, he left for his room.

The king turned to Zaria and Lizzy with a smile on his face. He looked them up and down, then remarked, “I daresay you girls made quite the first impression on our guest.”

“What do you mean, father?”

"No," he repeated, clearing his throat.

"Some mysteries are best left mysteries."

He reached out and touched Zaria’s face with his finger. “Is that ash I see?"

Zaria turned to look at Lizzy, just as Lizzy looked at her. Both of their faces were smudged in ashes. Somehow they had managed to work together trying cover the mess, even though it hadn't worked at all. A giggle escaped from Zaria's mouth, and soon both girls were laughing uncontrollably. Zaria thought to herself, this new maid might not be so bad after all. She might even turn out to be a friend!

The king laughed along with them. He threw his arms around the two girls' shoulders, not minding the soot he got on his own robes. "Alright," he said, "you may clean yourselves up whenever you like."

The next day found Zaria leaning on the kitchen counter, munching on an apple as Lizzy swept the floor. Across from Zaria, Cook bent over her cooking pot, stirring a wonderful-smelling stew. In the corner, the new butler, Dobbs, stood polishing goblets for din-

ner.

"Cook?" Zaria asked. Cook turned from her pot and wiped the sweat from her forehead with the edge of her apron.

"Yes, miss Zaria?" she huffed. "You aren't wanting another chocolate cake, are you? I'm busy with supper, you know."

Zaria grinned. "No ... I was just wondering. Yesterday the prince said something about the Legend of Canterwell. He said it like everyone should know what he means. Have you heard of it?

Cook raised her eyebrows. "And what makes you think I would know?"

"Well ... you always do have the latest gossip," Zaria replied hopefully.

Lizzy giggled as she put away the broom. "I've heard of that legend. Isn't it something about a missing heir?"

"Yes!" Cook replied, forgetting herself (and her stew). "Years ago, the old kingdom Canterwell was destroyed, and all the royal family members were killed. But there was one who was never found! A little boy, they say, who would've inherited the throne."

"Really?" Zaria beamed. She did love a good mystery. "So for all we know, he could still be alive?"

"Yes, ma'am," said Cook. She turned to stir the stew again. "If he'd show up, he'd have a right to the new kingdom of Benedic, for sure."

"How intriguing!" Zaria said, looking at Lizzy. "Wouldn't it be grand to solve the mystery, Lizzy?"

"No," came the sudden voice of Dobbs the butler. All three girls stopped and stared at him. He was a tall man--the same tall man that had spilled the ashes on them--and his eyebrows were the bushiest Zaria had ever seen. Now he seemed caught off-guard.

He picked up the last goblet to polish.

"No," he repeated, clearing his throat. "Some mysteries are best left mysteries."

They watched in silence as Dobbs picked up the tray of goblets and walked out of the kitchen.

"Well, he's odd," Zaria said. "Who doesn't like mysteries?"

Lizzy smiled. "He's just like that.

Quiet, and things."

"You know him?"

He approached her and bowed, wearing a half-smirk on his face. “ah, you must be the princess,” he said.

"Well, sort of. He's just always been there. I came here with him, you know, because we both could get jobs at the castle. I just don't mind him, or he spoils my fun."

"Spoils my fun, too!" said Cook. "A person can't talk to herself, what with a butler hanging around the kitchen."

"You've never read The Knight of Forendale?" Zaria gasped, clutching the book to her chest. They were in the palace library on Lizzy's free time, because Zaria loved books and Lizzy had never seen a library.

"No," Lizzy replied, running her fingers along a shelf of books, "I'm guess I haven't read most of these."

"Oh, but it's a mystery!" Zaria cried. "You must read it. My father used to read me a chapter every night. You like mysteries too, right?"

Lizzy grinned. "I think so." She took the book from Zaria and began thumbing through it.

"Why, hello!" came a voice at the doorway. It was Prince Rolando.

"Hello!" said Zaria. Lizzy fell into place behind her.

"I couldn't help but hear," the

prince said as he strolled into the room, "that you were talking about mysteries. I happen to love a good mystery myself." He smiled and sat down in an armchair.

"Oh, yes!" said Zaria. "That's why you're traveling! The Legend of Canterwell!"

He laughed. "You're a very smart girl. I am investigating, you see. If that heir is still living, then I want to restore him to his rightful throne."

“if that heir is still living, then I want to restore him to his right-

why don't you help me while I'm here? I sure could use two good brains like yours."

Zaria gasped. "Do you mean it, sir?"

"Of course! While I'm here, I was planning to stop in your archive room to see what information this palace might have about the old kingdom of Canterwell, now called Benedic. Unfortunately, I'm not sure where the archives are located."

"I know!" Zaria clutched Lizzy's hand. "It's on the cellar level. Shall we help him, Lizzy?"

Lizzy couldn't suppress her excitement. "Yes!"

ful throne."

"That's very noble! I would give anything to be solving a mystery like you are! Wouldn't you, Lizzy?" she looked behind her. "Oh! Prince Rolando, this is Lizzy, my personal maid. But she's more like a friend.

Come on, Lizzy, no need to stand behind me."

Lizzy bowed to the prince. He smiled again.

"Well," he said to the girls, "if you both really do like mysteries so much,

Lizzy held a candle as Zaria pried through more books, and the prince pored over the one he had open. Lizzy squinted in the dust, trying not to sneeze.

"The candle is melting," she said.

"We don't have much time."

"Well, this is very interesting!" said the prince. His finger stopped on a picture in his book. "A drawing of a wall in the old castle of Canterwell."

Zaria and Lizzy crowded around

him to see. "A wall with a tree on it,�

Lizzy said.

"Indeed," said the prince.

"Apparently this is a wall in the castle that holds the names of all the Canterwell heirs. Do you see the leaves on the tree? Each one has a name." He looked to the words at the bottom of the drawing. "It says here that the wall is stone, and the leaves are wooden."

"But look," said Zaria, "there's one missing!"

As they looked, they all saw it. A small leaf on the bottom right was gone. The leaves were shaped a little like arrows, and appeared to be stuck into the stone in the wall.

"Sort of like my box," Lizzie said, cocking her head.

Zaria looked at her quizzically. "Your box?"

"Yes. I have a wooden box to keep my things in, and the lid is a carved

leaf." She frowned. "But it doesn't have a name on it. Not like those in the picture."

"Well," said the prince, running a hand through his hair. "Whoever has that missing leaf is either the heir of Canterwell, or someone who stole it!

Just then the candle burned out.

Zaria groaned. "Ugh! We should have brought another candle."

"No matter," they heard the prince say, "we've already got a clue! Now, let's get you ladies out of the dark, shall we?"

It was a dream come true for Zaria to be involved in a real mystery.

Could the heir of Canterwell really be alive? And could they really help discover it?

As the days passed, Zaria, Lizzy, and the prince became better and better friends. He had so many interesting

stories! And he was as smart as any detective. Sometimes the three of them would sit in the library for hours, and the prince would read his favorite books to them. His books held much more excitement than the average one that Zaria was used to reading, and sometimes she wished that real life could be that exciting.

Well ... now, suddenly, it was!

Prince Ronaldo said it was a good idea to use what you learned in books when you're solving a mystery in real life. And they did.

"I was thinking," the prince said one afternoon, "and wondering, have either of you two girls noticed anyone suspicious in the castle?"

"Suspicious?" Lizzy pursed her lips.

"I just moved here, so I don't know."

"What kind of suspicious?" asked Zaria.

"Well," said the prince, "anyone that you think might know something

about the heir of Canterwell. Anyone who might be trying to stop us from finding out the truth. Anyone that simply ... acts suspicious."

Zaria squinted her eyes. "What about the butler? He seems pretty suspicious to me. Very secretive."

"Dobbs?" asked Lizzy. "You think he's suspicious? Hmm ... I've never thought of him as that ..."

"But he did act strange when we mentioned the legend, didn't he, Lizzy?"

Lizzy nodded. "Yes. You're right!"

Prince Ronaldo raised his eyebrows. "Really? How interesting! We must keep an eye on this butler.

Very good, Zaria!"

Over the next few days, not much happened to help them in their search. They spent time with the prince and tried to solve the mystery, but didn’t get very far. Until one day, when something very suspicious happened.

"Zaria! Prince Ronaldo!" Lizzy cried as she burst through the library door. "My box! It's been stolen!"

"Your box with the leaf?" asked Zaria.

Lizzy nod-

ded as she gulped in a breath.

"Yes ... and I think I know who stole it."

“Who?” gasped Zaria.

“Well,” said Lizzy, sitting down, “I was going to my room after my chores were done. It was dark, and I couldn’t see very well. But right before I got to the door, I bumped into Dobbs! I thought it was strange that he was by my room, but I didn’t think any more of it. Then I went in and noticed right away, my box was missing. I haven’t been able to find it since!”

"Zaria! Prince Ronaldo! My box!

It's been stolen!"

The prince sat solemnly, stroking his mustache. “And when did this happen?”

“Just last night,” Lizzy replied.

“Why would he steal my box, Prince Rolando? Do you think it could have something to do with the legend of Canterwell?”

“You may be right! We’ll have to keep a closer eye on him and see if he does anything suspicious. If he knows something about the legend, he may be quite a dangerous man!”

Zaria shuddered with excitement.

“And to think, right here in our castle.”

Just then, the king entered the library. “Well, hello!” he said, sitting down in an armchair next to Zaria.

“You three seem to be having fun!”

“Oh, we are, father!” grinned Zaria.

“Do you mind if I sit with you and listen to whatever you’re reading?” asked the King.

Zaria looked at Prince Ronaldo, then back to her father. “Actually, father, we’re on an adventure right now. Besides, I don’t think you’d like the books we’ve been reading

anyway; they’re a little different than usual.”

“I wouldn’t mind,” the King smiled.

“I just like to be with you.” He stood up. “Have a grand adventure, girls.

And if you have time for reading again soon, tell me and I’ll join you.”

He bent to kiss Zaria’s forehead, then left the room.

“Alright,” said Zaria. “Let’s solve a mystery.”

Just as Zaria and Lizzy came into the kitchen, Cook let out a frustrated huff and set down a pan of burnt bread on the counter.

“What happened, Cook?” asked Lizzy.

“Well, you can see for yourself!” replied Cook, throwing her hands in the air. “I forgot the bread, and it burned, see.”

“What happened?” Zaria asked.

“And where is Dobbs?”

“That is part of the problem,” Cook answered. “He hasn’t shown his face all day. I don’t know where he is! I just polished all the goblets myself.”

Zaria frowned to herself.

“Wherever could he be?”

“Cook,” said Lizzy, with a gleam in her eye, “aren’t you enjoying being alone in your kitchen again? I thought you said the butler spoiled your fun.”

“Well … he was nice to have around the kitchen, after all. He helped with the workload, that’s for sure.”

“Don’t worry,” Zaria said, determined. “We’ll do our best to find him.”

And they did do their best; they searched everywhere, even in rooms that hadn’t been unlocked in months. But somehow the butler had vanished out of thin air. He was nowhere within the castle. Prince Ronaldo and the girls had checked every room they could find. Soon, two days had passed, and he was still missing. So was Lizzy’s wooden box with the leaf-shaped lid.

Stay tuned for the

conclusion in the Summer 2014 Issue!

Reads worthy

The Tinker’s Daughter Wendy G. Lawton This is a captivating story which imagines the life of John Bunyan’s blind daughter Mary. Because of Mary’s blindness she has always felt the need to prove her own value and independence. But things change when her father is thrown into prison for standing for Truth. Mary must learn to lean on Jesus, the true source of her strength.

Anywhere He Leads Me Corrie ten Boom—Compiled by Judith Couchman Anywhere He Leads Me is a collection of stories from Corrie Ten Boom’s (author of The Hiding Place) lesser known books. Compiled in devotional form, each “day” includes a portion of scripture, food for thought, a prayer, and a story from Corrie. This book, because of the impacting stories on prayer, forgiveness, and more, would be a great option for anyone looking for something to read along with their daily devotions.

Cheaper by the Dozen Frank B. Gilbreth and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey I’m sure you’ve heard the story of the eccentric time-saving man with twelve children…. But have you ever read this laughtill-it-hurts read? If you haven’t, you really need to… I’m sure it will have you in stiches!

Phot o CHALLENGE your entries

Andrea

Kelci

Mary

Fonda

Jane

Kelci

Black & White

een

Courtney

Karlita

Arlene

The Next Photo Challenge:

teatime

Thanks to everyone who participated in this issue’s photo challenge! Want to join the next challenge?

Send your original “teatime” themed photo

to girlfriendgazette@gmail.com by June 1st, 2014.

THIS IS MY JESUS STORY

FROM A READER

Away to

Vietnam Our family had just gotten done eating supper and were talking about our favorite thing we liked to talk about. Thailand! In just a few months, Dad, Mom and us three youngest girls were going to spend six weeks in that lovely country! How exciting!

That particular evening as we sat around the supper table, Dad added something new to the conversation. “While we're over there anyways, why not go to a closed country and share the love of Jesus as an early Christmas gift?” Now that's an idea! Why not?

Our sister, Jessica, was visiting from Thailand at the time. She quickly suggested that Vietnam would be the best country to go into and soon came up with a figure that was approximately how much it would cost.

Voilà! In just few minutes, we had added another adventure to our itinerary! There was one problem though. Just going to Thailand would drain all of our savings. How in the world could we afford to go to Vietnam too?

Dad had an answer for that. “ If God wants us to go, He will provide the funds.” So around the table we went, the whole family taking turns praying for funds to go to Vietnam.

A couple weeks went by and someone

gave us some money “for the Thailand trip.”

We knew exactly what that was going to be used for! Vietnam! But it was only a fraction of the total amount we were needing.

The day till we left for Thailand was fast approaching and some of us had almost given up any hope of going to Vietnam. We had to soon make the necessary arrangements for the trip. Then one day, a friend stopped in at Dad's office and started asking about the Vietnam trip and how much it would cost. At the end of the conversation, he said that he would provide the funds for the trip!

How exciting! God is so good! He heard our prayers and answered them in an awesome way!

What Story Do You Have to Share?

Jesus has done so many incredible things in each one of our lives. What has He done for you that you want to shout out? No story is too insignificant. Send us your story [no longer than one page please!] girlfriendgazette@gmail.com. [sending pictures is optional]

a

joyful Is good medicine

A Look at The Names of God With Teresa Witmer

Seeing God Bigger El Kanna

Bringing it Closer To Home:

For the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. [Ex. 34:13]

Somewhere in the midst of shaking my head and wagging my finger at the Children of Israel, I have to stop and think of myself. It’s probably not so far off from my life. Rest assured, I don’t have any golden calves on my shelves (décor hazard!) - but there are many idols I can have in my heart.

Hello friends! It’s time to think about this article again and ask God how He wants to show us more of Himself in His Names and increase our vision of Him. Knowing His names can deepen our prayers and change our perspective of life.

More than that, it helps us see a little more of the awesome God we worship! We will never reach the limits of discovering Him! He’s that big!

I keep thinking of the name El Kanna – Jealous God. I guess it’s not one of those warm-fuzzy names. In fact, this name can be kind of confusing. I mean, is it ok for God to be Jealous? I can be jealous of people sometimes…and that’s normally not ok.

An idol is anything that takes our focus and worship from God. It’s that thing (or even person) that takes our time and affection from Him. Anything that we base our security, dreams, and hopes in that is not God. It can be good things music, reading, writing, ipods, facebook, friends, sports – you name it. These things can be a blessing…or they can take us away from God if we make them more important than Him.

Think of your best friend. She is someone you share a lot with - all your hopes, dreams, laughter, stories, and advenA Little Background in the Bible: tures. Imagine if this friend started getting preoccupied with Most of the times God calls Himself Jealous in the Bible are other things. What if she was always too busy to come over to your house…or forgot that time you were going to go in the context of having idols or other gods. Imagine with shopping together. What if you found out something else me for a moment - God and Moses on a mountain. God is was more important to her than being friends with you? making a covenant and giving them commands to live by.

It’s really awesome if you think about it. He says things like, What if she didn’t really seem in to being friends anymore?

“If you keep my covenant, then you shall be My own posses- That would hurt. And you would be jealous for whatever thing or person was taking your friendship away. sion among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy naI think God feels a lot like that about us when we get busy tion.” [Ex. 19:5,6] The God of the universe was showing off with other things - when the stuff of this world takes us His glory to Moses and reminding him that everything was away from Him. He really, really loves you. He made you!

His...and yet He had chosen them.

You are His! He is Jealous for you to love Him in return and to not let anything else get in the way of your relationship A few verses over, God gives Moses the 10 Commandments. It seems appropriate that the first one is: “You shall with Him. have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourSeeing God as a Jealous God is a challenge for me to reevalself and idol…for I, the LORD your God, am a Jealous God.” [Ex. 20:3,4] God was Jealous for anything they would uate my life again and take note of the things that want to worship other than Him. And is that ever ok! He’s God after rob me of my time with Him and keeping Him first! In thinking about the name El Kanna…I realize it’s not really so conall! For Him to be jealous for them to worship Him is not a fusing…and definitely not wrong that God should be Jealous. problem!

In fact, it reminds me again how great He is and how much He loves us.

Imagine Moses’ horror when he comes down from the mountain to find them worshipping something else - a mere object - a golden calf. This is usually where I pause in the story and scoff the Nation of Israel. Don’t they know better?

How silly is it to make yourself an idol (a calf at that) after everything God just did to show His power and glory!

Connect

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Or send us an email! // girlfriendgazette@gmail.com

Expand your Vocabulary: Words for Laugh: Chortle, Giggle, Titter, Guffaw, Snicker, Cachinnate, Cackle, Chuckle,

About the

Cover Models Sarah Esh /// Age 16 /// (pictured on the right)

3 adjectives that best describe me: Book-worm, adventurous, fun-loving

Photography Tip

The Rule of Thirds

In photography, a great rule for composition is thirds.

The next time you’re taking a photo try to imagine a grid like the one I put on the picture of Sarah. Did you know that your eyes are naturally drawn to where the lines intersect? Think about how you want your photo to turn out… what’s focal point? You’ll be amazed how eye catching the rule of thirds is!

Where I go to rest and relax… and what I do: often to the woods or my bedroom. I read or play guitar and sing.

Place in the world I want to visit: There’s so many!

Paris, France. Rome, Italy. Africa. Australia.

My Favorite... drink: Sweet tea or Milk color: aqua item in my closet: camera weather: rain

Kaitlyn Esh /// Age: 15 /// (pictured on the left) 3 adjectives that best describe me: creative, adventurous, kind Where I go to rest and relax… and what I do: In a quiet, peaceful place, maybe in the woods. I like to read a book or write in my journal.

Place in the world I want to visit: Italy My Favorite... drink: Lemonade

Watch a Behind the Scenes Movie We’d just like to say thanks for making it this far through the magazine! Log on to http:// girlfriendgazette.blogspot.com/p/extras.html to watch an extra behind the scenes video of this issue’s photo shoot! (Featuring the videography talents of Christy Barkman)

color: Violet item in my closet: my old journals weather: rain

How many times can you spot the little white dog that kept photo-bombing our shots in the video?

Ps. There’s Still More!

Coffee Ice Cream

All you need is a freezer and...

1 can of evaporated milk 1 can of sweet condense milk 2 shots of espresso put all of the ingredients in a pot on the stove and heat until it is melted or mixed well put in the fridge over night and put in ice cream maker no ice cream maker, no problem, put in the pan and freeze over night.

Picture Frame

Marker Board Instructions:

Spread The Joy : Check List Challenge 

Cover a friend’s door with words of encouragement written on Sticky-Notes



Leave enough coins on the vending machine for the next person’s Coke



Watch for the mailman so you can take him cookies when he comes to deliver mail



Help your mom with extra chores



Help an elderly person with their groceries.



Tell a stranger Jesus loves them

Take a piece of paper the size of the picture that the frame holds and let loose your creative side!

Decorate it with awesome paper, Washi Tape etc. Do it any which way you want! When your finished, put the decorated paper in the frame, then take a dry erase marker and doodle away on the glass of your awesome new decoration!!

By Savannah Knepp

GIVEAWAY coming soon Keep your eyes peeled!

Hint: www.girlfriendgazette. blogspot.com

Thanks for Reading: Girlfriend Gazette

Spring 2014 Edition

Please do NOT reproduce any content of this magazine, in part or in whole, without the expressed permission of the editors. Thank you.