tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6389092016451022432024-03-04T20:49:54.410-08:00McFarland Kids Creative PlaceKeith and Laura Beth McFarlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03503262528818987280noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-638909201645102243.post-38714432986323370012016-05-16T04:47:00.001-07:002016-05-16T04:47:18.037-07:00A Near Miss<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Well, it’s me again: Elisha
McFarland, with a crazy story to tell. Now, don’t get me wrong: I love
blogging, but when this story happened, I knew that I had to share this
testimony with everyone.</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Yesterday
we went to drop of the Vogt family, who were leaving Uganda for good. We went
to Entebbe with them, swam in a pool, and went to the zoo (I will enclose
pictures). It was fun, but also sad at the same time, like when you give your
teddy bear to the family next door, and you are sad, but when you see the
shining eyes of their 3 year old daughter, you know it is worth it. The shining
eyes of those kids who were sad to leave, but eager to see their mother in the
US made the drive and trip worth it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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After
seeing them off, my family and I drove to Kampala, where we shopped and ate
lunch. However, God had a surprise for us just before lunch: Right after we
drove up to the Thai restaurant, 4 fighter planes flew overhead, doing barrel
roles, looping the loop, and other awesome tricks. The reason for this was
because of the threat by Al Qaeda to Uganda after President Museveni was
elected for the trillionth time in a row. Because of the threat, Museveni
launched these planes in the air to show that Uganda had power (please pray for
Uganda as the inauguration is on Thursday). It was loud, but fun to watch. So,
after an air show and lunch, we set out for home. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Traffic
was good, so after shopping a bit more, we left Kampala at 4:00 in high
spirits. We talked as we drove home, as well as napped in the car. After about
an hour of driving, we reached a town called Wobulenzi, which is about 50
kilometers from our home. Before we even reached the town, however, something
in me told me that there was something wrong. A cold pit of fear gnawed at me,
and made me wonder:<i> Is this a warning
from God?</i> I didn’t tell anyone of it, because if it was really not a
warning, and I told someone, then I would have gotten laughed at by my
siblings. The whole drive through the town, I prayed, asking God if he was
trying to tell me something. Finally, when we reached the end of the town, I
decided that I was just creeping myself out (that does happen, you know!), and
I didn’t need to worry. However, I was still on my toes as we began to drive
down a hill. We had just gone down when it happened: </div>
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A bus in the opposite lane
came whipping around the bus in front of it in a no pass zone, doing at least 90
kph (the speed limit was 50), and was 10 feet from hitting us.</div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">The bus whipped around the car in
front of it, and swerved towards us. Looking back on it, I remember only one
thought: Help! Now, my dad and I saw it at the same time, and we both reacted:
he spun the wheel 45 degrees left, swerving us into the shoulder (that’s what
they call it, right?). There were people on both sides of the road and my Dad
just swerved in a way to miss the bus and the people.</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">My dad told me this afterwards:</span></div>
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<i>The bus driver was
panicking. Rather than slow down, he sped up to finish his pass and in that he had
to make that split second decision: Hit us, a van with 8 people in it, or
swerve to the left and hit a young man just beginning to cross the road on his
bike. The driver chose the latter.</i> <o:p></o:p></div>
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As I
think about it, I am grateful to the driver; not for almost hitting us, but for
avoiding us and choosing to instead hit the young man collecting water for his
family in a Jerri can. If he had hit us, then there is no question: I would be
a young orphan with 2 or less siblings to take care of. Instead, somebody else
is mourning the loss of their father, brother, or son (we didn’t get a good
look at the guy). Even so, the bus drove on, for if the driver went back to
check on the injured or dead man, then the locals would have torn him out of
the bus and killed him. <o:p></o:p></div>
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My dad told me this the next day:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>I looked back at the bus through the side
view mirror, and saw it strike the bike with the kid on it. Watching it was
like watching a crash test doll: The bike and kid went flying. The bus slammed
into him. There is no question in my mind: The boy is dead.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i> </i></div>
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This whole scene made me
wonder so many things that my head hurt afterwards. <i>Did the boy wake up in the morning, knowing he was going to die that
afternoon? What was his last thought? Was he a Christian? Did it hurt to die?
Was he scared? Did he have any family?</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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I
answered most of these myself, and my parents answered the rest: He didn’t wake
up in the morning knowing he was going to die, and his last thought probably
was “Oh, God!” He might have been a Christian, but we won’t know for sure. He
was hit so fast that it probably didn’t hurt, but he definitely felt <i>something</i>. He was most definitely
scared, and probably did have family, a family that would stay up all night
with neighbors mourning their loss. But this I know: Neither choice was good.
But I am thankful God has preserved our lives, because if the driver had made
the other choice, than I wouldn’t be here: Because I wasn’t buckled in.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This
evening I have a few mixed emotions. It has taken me a while to finish this blog post, because I have some kind of curse with computers (making them break while i am writing this) and because the internet is slow. Museveni was sworn in, and for that I am glad. However, before I finish this, I would like to give 2 grateful thank you's: The first one to the family of the boy, for sacrificing their son's life in order that we would not be killed (even without knowing it). Thank you ever so much.<o:p></o:p></div>
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My second thank you is to God: For sparing my life. I really do not deserve it, and deserved death. And yet..... He saved me, and in that I may rejoice. He has plans for me! He is an amazing, awesome beautiful, holy God. Praise Be!</div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>Elisha McFarland</b></div>
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Keith and Laura Beth McFarlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03503262528818987280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-638909201645102243.post-45173910199401319702016-04-22T02:27:00.000-07:002016-04-22T02:27:15.554-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Grandpa and JD's trip to Uganda</div>
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I am so excited that my grandpa and cousin are here! I have loved seeing them and hearing about there past experiences, as well as hearing news about home. I am really thankful for God's grace in giving my aunt the money to send her son here, and for God's grace in giving my parents the money to go to Murchison! Here is a couple of pictures i took!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt72IlQ9TxCFx3kafQm3COUoFopQ1m9Q5H93SFyxGYrLWieWINCisS0cW96STN_fBXK1OfL1O5q9Oh2qkSyXJE_c6SYrT9cclMWJw89ROiGYfDqB_utjVrc8BUkFJMLbhrb11Cy0oO7oJI/s1600/S1160015.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt72IlQ9TxCFx3kafQm3COUoFopQ1m9Q5H93SFyxGYrLWieWINCisS0cW96STN_fBXK1OfL1O5q9Oh2qkSyXJE_c6SYrT9cclMWJw89ROiGYfDqB_utjVrc8BUkFJMLbhrb11Cy0oO7oJI/s320/S1160015.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqZ-jSnRvrJuvU6WpfLUHcpZ9fWLxds0ffry1yFXCCrHGT7ULPd2ZCj_cKb1O8KAaREEApr2CyEWjNIBC4Edn8eaOggk373KvcWc9RqfIO0Hc7RybZo6ukKIynEapK1xayavcdpR737ebd/s1600/S1160004.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqZ-jSnRvrJuvU6WpfLUHcpZ9fWLxds0ffry1yFXCCrHGT7ULPd2ZCj_cKb1O8KAaREEApr2CyEWjNIBC4Edn8eaOggk373KvcWc9RqfIO0Hc7RybZo6ukKIynEapK1xayavcdpR737ebd/s320/S1160004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDXQmM6uD49HhamO8Rg3uTQPTeeEiyNdN2CIaBR-3HGZxtGJKvGKIvlr1U1o7rIrF2YTEZxUvpRQf-vaEU8ZZrE3SoxX6MsiJYXbJTNVjGWSp_zK6fuIoMka0lEUJKqL4AdQLYraFyi24s/s1600/S1160014.JPG" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjerGxz0hj5ZkhRFWXz-a2p4Wuv2wXMuHFuUhrVOqLN9l_FPI5cilL5yuAMBeyOcJwPjjHfQ4ROkxqgs0jalKBjKiety4vDdfmfI3wprojkGjVNKGOdRlAP5KnRp9K0h49Z5meZLBLqPxEz/s1600/S1150005.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjerGxz0hj5ZkhRFWXz-a2p4Wuv2wXMuHFuUhrVOqLN9l_FPI5cilL5yuAMBeyOcJwPjjHfQ4ROkxqgs0jalKBjKiety4vDdfmfI3wprojkGjVNKGOdRlAP5KnRp9K0h49Z5meZLBLqPxEz/s320/S1150005.JPG" width="320" /></a><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDXQmM6uD49HhamO8Rg3uTQPTeeEiyNdN2CIaBR-3HGZxtGJKvGKIvlr1U1o7rIrF2YTEZxUvpRQf-vaEU8ZZrE3SoxX6MsiJYXbJTNVjGWSp_zK6fuIoMka0lEUJKqL4AdQLYraFyi24s/s320/S1160014.JPG" width="320" /></div>
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I really loved seeing all the animals God has created (Genesis 1:1-20), and hope to see as many as possible. Thank you all for your prayers and support!</div>
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Keith and Laura Beth McFarlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03503262528818987280noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-638909201645102243.post-30323631070171519352015-11-24T01:45:00.002-08:002015-11-24T01:45:43.761-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Elisha's snow poem</div>
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The snow is like a whippoorwill,</div>
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Singing in the morning.</div>
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Falling softly to the ground,</div>
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The tears of our Lord mourning.</div>
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The snow is white like the blanket sheet,</div>
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On our comfy bed.</div>
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Glistening in the morning sun,</div>
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So bright it hurts my head.</div>
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The snow is cold like a ice cube block, </div>
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Melting in a glass.</div>
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Students walking through it,</div>
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Hurrying to get to class.</div>
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The snow brightens up the winter time,</div>
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Making things to do.</div>
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Snowball fights, Snowmen families,</div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And building a large igloo.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This is my first poem. I did it for school, and enjoyed every minute of it. I especially enjoy making Limericks. What was funny was that it all came to me in the first 5 seconds; so fast i had to write really fast so that i wouldn't forget it.</span></div>
Keith and Laura Beth McFarlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03503262528818987280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-638909201645102243.post-13015207077692511512015-11-06T00:46:00.001-08:002016-04-22T01:47:57.049-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: 18.6667px; line-height: 21.4667px;"><b>The McFarland Fantasy league newspaper</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ladybugs take lead with
8-0 win/loss ratio!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> After the end of week 8, the
ladybugs still remain undefeated with an easy win over the (). With their fantasy football star RB Devonta
Freeman leading their team, the ladybugs are looking up to a potentially undefeated
season. However, with the loss of their 2 string RB Matt Forte to an MCL pull,
and Freeman loosing precious touchdowns, their season is looking bleak. The
league manager, Elisha McFarland, was quoted saying: “The Ladybugs team has
been a large surprise, especially since at the start of the year they were
believed to be the worst team. Their team is very good, but now that Matt Forte
is injured, it is believed to be possible to defeat them.” In week 8, the
Ladybugs easily defeated 10<sup>th</sup> ranked JD’s Homies 175 to 131, giving
them their 7<sup>th</sup> straight win in a row. This week the Ladybugs are already off to an
18 point lead against 3<sup>rd</sup> ranked Chicago Blackhawks, due to the
points given by Cincinnati Bengals’ Jeremy Hill and the Cincinnati defense,
which triumphed over the Cleveland Browns in the NFL.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Week 8 matchups<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Chicago Invincibles: 189<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Thundering Herd: 170<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Big Nose Bears: 134<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">WV Wildcats: 105<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>The Old Men</b>: 185<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Chicago Blackhawks: 181<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>The Uganda Cranes</b>: 153<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Buffaloes: 126<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>The Ladybugs</b>: 175<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">JD’s Homies: 131<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Uganda Cranes triumph
over Buffaloes because of late game blunder!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Uganda Cranes (5-3) triumphed 153 to 126 in a huge upset win because of Andrew
Luck’s 26 points against the Carolina Panthers, and defeated the Buffaloes.
However, the game would have been won by the Buffaloes if not for 3 Bye week starts,
(2 RBs and a K) LeSean McCoy, DeMarco Murray, and Dan Carpenter. On the bench,
RB Todd Gurley scored 40+ points, showing that if the Buffaloes had started
even just Todd Gurley then the game would have been theirs. Also, this is a
reminder to <b>PLEASE CHECK YOUR LINEUP
EVERY Tuesday AND FRIDAY, AND PLEASE SUB OUT BYE WEEK PLAYERS. Thank you.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Editors note: </b>A bye week start is where a player whose team is not playing in the NFL that week does not play as well, and will not give any Fantasy points. Therefore it is advised to start another player in place of him. </span></div>
Keith and Laura Beth McFarlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03503262528818987280noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-638909201645102243.post-44886976736784389722015-10-22T02:21:00.002-07:002015-10-22T02:21:59.018-07:00A surprising accident<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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One night, we were playing a game with Papa and Brooke. The
point of the game was to sneak past the person that was ‘it’ in the pitch black house and
make it to a base. The person that wants to get the other people can move
obstacles in front of them to block them. If they hit the obstacles it will make
noise and he can get them. If you manage to sneak past him and get to the base,
you win. So as I was saying, we were playing this at night and were having a
great time. Isaiah and Elliana were ‘it’ and we knew that it would be hard
because there are two of them. So we came up with a plan that Papa would make a
distraction and we would make it to the base. We snuck up as Papa yelled and
started running around. The only bad thing was that we didn’t know that a stool
that was one of the obstacles was in his way. He slammed right into it (He was
on his knees) and fell down. We stopped the game and he got up and said, “Well,
that was fun. I’m not hurt that bad.” He removed his hand from his forhead and
it started dripping blood. He ran right into his room and asked mama if she
knew anybody about stiches. We were so scared. We thought and whispered to each
other, “Oh no. He’s going to have to get stiches.” We were freaked out! We knew
that stiches on his forehead were going to be hard. We prayed and went to bed
as our friends drove him to the hospital. We woke in the morning and there was Papa, smiling and greeting us cheerfully! On his head were strips to hold the
wound together. We were happy but sad at the same time. We knew that he will have a scar<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>. Thank God that he protected Papa from
getting hit in the eye or the cheek. I am glad he didn’t get stiches. Praise
God! </div>
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NJM </div>
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Keith and Laura Beth McFarlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03503262528818987280noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-638909201645102243.post-80331659073984881542015-10-22T02:03:00.001-07:002015-10-22T02:09:09.121-07:00A exciting trip to Kobwin<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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My dad had to go on a trip to a NHU branch in far north of Uganda called Kobwin. I was really excited, because my brother and I were allowed to go too. We ate dinner early the day before, and went to bed early as well (or at least tried). We had to wake up at 5:30 in the morning, pick up three other men, and make the 9 hour journey to Kobwin. It was hard, but we survived :) After the harrowing drive, we finally made it. Finally! At last! The rocks and view were totally worth it. There were rocks that were over 50 feet high! Here is a picture of Noah standing next to one. The top was way above the view of the camera! </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXwgFhxRYojXnfNXZk4P5JyztS1vlrJWKK5WoYJ0EQvrdFX_Z-N2jL-J5xk9ZzJqjNhWGwFxfv5b7WJjR3J_3sDieSoav3WvoEpWHcOgyvFsjjQhHgXjvoKnsWVhUWJYUquAzH36I1ZRy/s1600/IMG_0067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXwgFhxRYojXnfNXZk4P5JyztS1vlrJWKK5WoYJ0EQvrdFX_Z-N2jL-J5xk9ZzJqjNhWGwFxfv5b7WJjR3J_3sDieSoav3WvoEpWHcOgyvFsjjQhHgXjvoKnsWVhUWJYUquAzH36I1ZRy/s320/IMG_0067.JPG" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A rock comparison</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPYlOjKxVZwO2MzCyiHHsQwsI2Eg86d2wsxkOmvKEb0zy2STFZlCTY7GBGc2lmrk3GKdnFktIeOFwpY517t1EZAkMt3F-ymml6ZKW67XsQLyPu0qqsDbcbSdqxd2r9sXwPRZzWyq6gASFJ/s1600/IMG_0055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPYlOjKxVZwO2MzCyiHHsQwsI2Eg86d2wsxkOmvKEb0zy2STFZlCTY7GBGc2lmrk3GKdnFktIeOFwpY517t1EZAkMt3F-ymml6ZKW67XsQLyPu0qqsDbcbSdqxd2r9sXwPRZzWyq6gASFJ/s320/IMG_0055.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 50 foot rock</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOKnhqH9IGNfeaFa1sVjvqPkgG5qrF3SF_NEQJWnscf5-Z07n8_2RfhoAWGRo0wZIRH4_YP59_6l2lyhE8cqQkzfZj_IwviCHlUauPaOy8loFYgaWQsAg6xZo4iAeJilcgGr4BcSYvnAVO/s1600/IMG_0060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOKnhqH9IGNfeaFa1sVjvqPkgG5qrF3SF_NEQJWnscf5-Z07n8_2RfhoAWGRo0wZIRH4_YP59_6l2lyhE8cqQkzfZj_IwviCHlUauPaOy8loFYgaWQsAg6xZo4iAeJilcgGr4BcSYvnAVO/s320/IMG_0060.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our house, car, and backyard from the top of a rock</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There was no power at night, but we made due with flashlights and lanterns. Meals were small, but delicious, and were cooked by one of the family mothers there. We also got the opportunity to go to a special birthday party, have tea every night, and have some amazing north Ugandan food called Atapa. We stayed there for 4 days, and although we were supposed to stay for five, we decided to come home a day early, do some shopping, and surprise Mama. She was so surprised! She loved it, and she was able to enjoy us for an extra day! All in all, going to Kobwin was awesome!<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
-Elisha McFarland</div>
</div>
Keith and Laura Beth McFarlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03503262528818987280noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-638909201645102243.post-27360883361093750712015-10-19T06:20:00.001-07:002015-10-22T02:07:12.097-07:00My Pet Dog<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> My pet is a dog. She is brown all over with soft brown eyes.
She has floppy ears and beautiful fur. She is very pretty. She loves to chase
cars and play with us. She is very protective and loving to us. She guards our house well. She
barks when people come to warn us. My dog likes to lie outside and relax. She
is the best dog every. She has a rough ridge on her back. She is a special type
of breed called a Rodeisan Ridgeback. She loves children and loves us best of all. <br /> I love my dog. I feed her and care for her. Without
Mounty, my life would be dull. She is the best dog EVER!!!!</span></div>
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NJM</div>
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Keith and Laura Beth McFarlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03503262528818987280noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-638909201645102243.post-86629851529885035952015-10-01T02:13:00.000-07:002015-10-01T02:13:22.146-07:00My Psalm (NJ)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">My Psalm<o:p></o:p></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The LORD guides me, He leads me</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He lays his life down for me.<o:p></o:p></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He sacrificed himself for us<o:p></o:p></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He loves us.<o:p></o:p></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He protects my mind and my heart<o:p></o:p></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He blesses me with so many things.<o:p></o:p></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I love him and I serve him with all my heart<o:p></o:p></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I will live eternally in heaven with him<o:p></o:p></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Even when I take my last breath, <o:p></o:p></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I will bless his name<o:p></o:p></span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Noah Jeremiah McFarland<o:p></o:p></span></strong></div>
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Keith and Laura Beth McFarlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03503262528818987280noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-638909201645102243.post-91052433200243529272015-09-30T11:17:00.000-07:002015-09-30T11:17:05.212-07:00The Discovery of Aldabran (by Elisha)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Well, I really like writing. That is for sure. I'm still learning and my dad keeps encouraging me to publish one of my stories. Here it is!<br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The discovery of Aldabran </span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Chapter 1: Discovery <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Their names were Hadley and Jake Smith. They lived in the
city of Miami, and were 12 and 10 years of age. They went to school,
like normal children, ate like normal children, had normal names, and in all
ways, seemed like normal children, except in one way, but they did not know it
then. They did not know anything about what was to come.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Hadley, are you out of that shower
yet? You are taking <i>forever</i>!” Jake
said with frustration tinted in his voice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Coming!” Hadley responded, and she
opened the shower door. She was about to say, “Well, you aren’t one to talk.
You take forever on the toilet!” when a wall of water slammed into Jake.
“Whoa!” said Jake, almost falling down the stairs, which were right behind him.
Hadley sat there, laughing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “That wasn’t funny!” Jake said,
dripping wet and fuming. “I don’t even know how it happened.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes it was. It was hilarious!” said
Hadley, gasping for breath. She suddenly stopped and sobered when Jake made a
fist at her. Jake brushed past her, still fuming, and walked over to the tub.
He looked in the drain; nothing. He looked everywhere, and could not figure out
what had made that wave. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Did you do that?” He asked, still
wet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No. What do you think did?” said
Hadley, a smile still on her face. Jake looked at her, and saw genuine
bewilderment written all over her face. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Alright, I believe you. But mom and
dad won’t.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “We’re going to tell them?” Hadley
said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Of course, dumbbell. Why wouldn’t
we?” he replied, a sneer on his face. He turned and walked into the shower,
shouldering Hadley aside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Ten minutes later, he immerged, with
dry clothes and combed hair. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Come on, let’s go.” He said,
starting down the stairs. Hadley
immerged from her room in a white shirt and jeans, and joined him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> They walked past the old living
room, which had turned into an extra bedroom when their parents had had an
extension built. They walked past the bathroom, and the den, and for Hadley,
each step seemed to take forever. She knew she had been the one to splash Jake,
but did not know how. She wondered if it was something that had just happened
by chance, but deep down, she knew it wasn’t. She hoped that her parents would
have answers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> They got to the living room and saw
their parents, who were in deep conversation. She was able to catch some of it:
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I sensed it. Don’t worry, I am
sure. If it happens now, though, that would not be good, especially now, what
with him watching. .” Her mom said, but she stopped when she saw the children.
Her father did not see them, and said, “Yes, that would not be good. If they
are coming of age, then we must tell them so-. . .” but he stopped abruptly
when his wife put a hand over his mouth, and motioned towards the children. He saw them, and studied them, like a buyer
studies a fish, or a merchant studies his wares. He stood up, and started to
say something, but the words did not come out. While he searched for the words
to say, Hadley studied him again, like the million times she had studied him
before. Fred Christian was not a tall man, but not short, with wavy brown hair
and a handsome face. His wife, Lydia, was not unpleasant to look at either. She
was short and petite, with black hair and green eyes which seemed to bring out
her hair color. Suddenly, her observation was cut off when her father finally
managed to say something: “It’s time we all had a talk.” He said. Jake, who had
not seemed to have heard the conversation between his parents, said, “We would
like to talk with you too, dad.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You would? Oh, well then let’s have
a family conference.” He said, walking towards the dining room. Once there, the
family all sat down, and their father said a word of prayer. Afterwards, the
father started the conversation by saying, “Now, what is it you kids wanted to
talk about?” Jake responded, saying, “We would like to know, are we ah,
anything, special? Like, do we have things that we can do that others can’t?”
This surprised Hadley. She knew that they were going to ask about, but she did
not think about asking this way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Children, before we say anything
else, I would like to say that you are both special, and are both precious to
me and your father.” Their mother said. The children nodded, and Hadley said,
“Thanks mom.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Now, to answer your question, we
must tell you what we wanted to talk to you about, and then you will
understand.” Said father<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I was born in a different world. This
world was different from this world because some of the people were special.
They were called Specials, and they could control the elements: fire, water,
earth, air, nature, and weather. I was a capable water controller, and when the
Great War against the dragon came, I was asked to join the army. Now, this was
an offer that could not be refused, so I joined. It was after the war that I
met your mother, who was the most powerful water Special at that time.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Oh, Fred, you stop that!” Their mom
said, swatting his arm. Hadley’s dad only grinned, and continued to the
imploring looks of his children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “It was later, after the war and
after I married your mother that I met a man named Barnabus, who turned out
later to be the gifted one, the man who can control all elements. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Uncle Barnabus, dad?” asked Hadley
in a curious voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes. He married your great-aunt
Jocelyn a few years later.” He said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I knew it!” Jake said. “He always
seemed to have that, well, <i>aura</i> of
power around him. Was that how he saved me from that riptide at the beach that
one time?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes. That was also how he saved you
from falling about three stories when you were a baby, too.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No way!” Jake said. “So what
happened aft- . . .” He stopped abruptly when his mom started looking about
with wild eyes, and said in a whisper, “Fred! He’s here. I can sense him! He’s
coming to the door!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What! OK, kids, you go around back
to the garage. There is a small button there. You remember the one you were not
supposed to touch? Well, here’s your chance. Press it, and enter the tunnel
that will open right after. It will lead you to a secret room. I want you to
wait there for us. If we don’t come, then ask Wally what to do. He will tell
y-. . .” he stopped when a loud crash was heard, and someone said in a deep
voice, “I come!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Then, a BOOM, BOOM, BOOM was heard,
and Hadley’s mother said, “The dragon himself!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “But how is he still alive? And how
is he here?” asked Hadley’s dad. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I don’t know! But I am going to try
to stop him!” said mother, and she raised her arms. A roar was heard from
above, and Jake, who was about to run out the door to the garage said, “You hit
him!” then he ran to the garage. Hadley followed, but looked up as she ran.
There in the air, hung a huge, dripping dragon, with black scales and fire
spewing from his mouth. He almost looked like a cloud, and somehow she knew
that this was what he was making the neighbors think he was. He saw her, and
grinned evilly. He growled, and a large number of smaller dragons detached from
his scales and flew towards her. She then heard a FOOM and a large spout of
water hit the dragons, throwing them far into the sky. Father! Mother then
arrived out of the house and joined him, and together they made a huge spout
that hit the dragon and threw him several hundred feet. She was elated. They
were winning! Then suddenly, the tide turned. The dragon roared, and the
shockwave knocked down her parents. Father got back up on her feet only to be
blasted by a huge roaring inferno that came out of the dragon’s mouth. Hadley
screamed! Suddenly, a huge hole opened up underneath her and she was swallowed
into the earth’s belly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Keith and Laura Beth McFarlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03503262528818987280noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-638909201645102243.post-57550875157168730482015-09-16T02:49:00.000-07:002015-09-16T02:49:06.117-07:00A McFarland ruckus<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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A McFarland home ruckus</div>
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Today was a little interesting. I played soccer for the afternoon, until 5:30 came, and we all had to go. I did my chores, and went to talk to my dad for a bit. I really love talking with him; I feel like we see eye to eye. I talked for a bit with him over relationships and friends, and then went inside to shower. After a quick shower, I went to my room. Suddenly, I heard several loud voices, and then I heard what I recognized to be my brother Noah's voice shouting, "PAPA! PAPA!" Then, I heard a crash, followed by Malakai screaming. "<i>What the heck is happening?"</i> I thought. Screaming and crashing in my house is normal (LOL) but "PAPA PAPA?" This was getting strange. I walked out of my bedroom with a towel rapped around my waist, and saw to my surprise 4 things: Papa holding a screaming Kai, Noah crying into the couch, the previously full Catadyn filter laying in pieces on the floor, and water covering the floor, in someplace 3 inches deep. Papa, seeing me, yelled for me to come and help him dry the floor. I motioned towards the towel around my waist, indicating I was not fully dressed, and he nodded, understanding. I ran back into my bedroom, put some pants on, and ran right back out. Without thinking, I grabbed a towel and started trying to dry the floor. Do you know the saying "You can't bail water with a pitchfork"? Same concept. My towel suddenly was very heavy, and dripping water. Dodging siblings, I ran outside and squeezed the towel to get the water out. Hurrying back in, i tried again, but before I was successful in drying the least bit, my dad shouted over the screaming baby, "Use a broom! Noah, go get a squeegee!" We both did as we were told. Noah ran to the Institute to get a squeegee, but did not get back for 10 minutes. I got a broom, and was able to sweep some water out before it managed to get on the rug. Things calmed down from there, and I was joined by Isaiah and Ellie. Noah returned, and after 15 minutes of battling water, we were victorious. We all leaned on our broom sticks and surveyed the floor. It was nearly completely dry. "Time to bust out the towels, boys!" I said. We all grabbed towels, and after another 10 minutes, the floor was dry. "Good job!" Papa said. "Now lets eat!" He had been working on dinner, I realized. "Why didn't you help us?" I asked. " You didn't need it. " He said. I smiled, and we all sat down to eat dinner. Now, i realize that my dad trusted me to help clean up the mess, and had left me in charge. I love having trust like that. It makes a boy feel special.<br />
P.S. I later learned that Malakai had been climbing on the water filter, and it had fell on him, with 20 liters of water inside of the tank. This water all fell out, but miraculously, Kai only suffered a small bruise on the top of his head. The major damage was done to the filters, which cost A LOT..</div>
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Keith and Laura Beth McFarlandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03503262528818987280noreply@blogger.com2