Because I've noticed that for the last few posts, they were quick scribbles done in a rush while I happened to be online. So, while I originally got online to update my Photo Blog (which I'll do as soon as I publish this post) and answer a very colourful e-mail (:P) (which I will before updating my Photo Blog), I will for a little bit put that aside and write an update on this blog... because more'n one have been askin' for it. ;)
As many of you may know, I had my first flute lesson yesterday in I-don't-know-how-long! Actually, I think I finally decided to drop it about February-March last school year, about nine months ago. I found myself so busy with school and studies I just didn't find time to practice, so I dropped lessons. A little bit later I kind of regretted it, because it was the only time in my busy week in which I could forget my studies, relax, and have a fun-hour with my awesome flute teacher.
But it worked out OK.
Then I dropped school this year because of my illness. In case you didn't know, here in Spain you finish High School at age 15, when you're a ninth grader in USA, I think, and you choose if you want to continue your education or not. I had chosen I wanted to, but after some happenings and my illness I decided that God didn't want me to study further for now, and I dropped it in middle October. I recovered, and when I started to get out of bed during the day, my mummy suggested I should take flute lessons again. I obviously said YESSSS! :D
My first lesson was yesterday. We had such a great time with my teacher! She is a dear and we have a lot of fun together. She makes music something enchanting, and even scales are interesting when I follow her indications. As you can see, I am very pleased to have the awesome teacher I have.
I will also be spending a great week with my beloved cousin and her babies. You HAFTA check out her blog, and see the beautiful family I'm going to visit next week! I am ever so excited at the prospect of spending such a long time with them! I've already met the new baby, Paul, once, and Baby Lara (Baby Lala, as she calls herself) a couple of times, but it was only for a day, and Baby Lara is already two years old! You can imagine my excitement.
Tomorrow is going to be a great day, too. I'm going to my oldest friend's birthday party with my brother. When I say my oldest friend's, I mean, my oldest friend. We know each other since I was born, even before! Let's say our families have been friends almost forever!
And okay, don't laugh at me. But ever since I bought the plane tickets to Holland I've been counting down the days, and since it's already Saturday (early in the morning :P), I only have to wait 38 DAYS!!! A month and a little bit more... and I'll tell you what... this month is going to fly by! I can't tell you how excited I am, and how impatient for the 29th of December to arrive! I know I'm going to be patient and I'll wait and get ready and blah, blah, blah... but you all know deep inside I'm so, SO impatient! I'm still a little girl in many ways. =P
And okay, I'll repeat, don't laugh at me. But since the day I bought the plane tickets to Holland I've started the preparations. Many lists of what-to-take-to-Holland and what-to-do-once-there (ex.: buy postcards ;]) have been written down. I bought new material for my new winter skirt last week, and I'm hurrying up with my Mamma's winter scarf so I can start mine to take to Holland. In case you haven't been able to see... I-AM-SO-EXCITED-ABOUT-GOING-TO-HOLLAND! By the way... Sonia has a blog! Sonia's the actual why of why I'm going there... my best friend. ;) And although it's in Spanish and hasn't been updated for years, and you can take that literally, maybe you'd like to take a loot. Click HERE! :D
But normal life goes on, usually. I've taught an English lesson today... a Math lesson last Wednesday. I may be getting more pupils. Please pray that I may, because if I am ever going to visit USA or Africa or whatever other place I might be called to, it will be thanks to the money I earn with my teaching!
I think I've already written a lot. =P I hope I haven't bored you. =P=P And I hope you won't throw the poor computer out of the window because of me. =P=P=P I know there's something I'm forgetting to write about. =P=P=P=P But if I remember, I'll tell you whenever I remember, basically. =P=P=P=P=P.
Okay, enough of that. ;) Toodles for now! :D

P.S.: I am desperate for a little cold spell! It gets up to 20º C during the day, that's more or less 70ºF. Aaaaaaaagh!

Shabby Apple Dare to Design Lawn Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Go check it out! It's very pretty. =)

Note: for all of those who don't know what is so exciting about drinking milk, please check this post.^^

Characters:
L*: oldest sister, 20 years old and bright-eyed.
M!: youngest brother, 8 years old and with a wide grin.

Scene:
M! is proudly showing L* his new toys, thirty-six dinasours gathered in a circle on the floor of his bedroom.

L*: Oh, my! Aren't they cool! What are their names?
M!: Huh... I don't know. They don't have a name... *puzzled look*
L*: They don't have a name?! But then how can people call them to lunch? *Worried look*
M!: *Even more puzzled face*
L*: But you don't want them to starve...! Poor things. Imagine, thirty-six dinasours starved to death...!

The Blastocystis Hominis is a single-celled parasite that attacks human's intestinal tract. The symptoms can be many, and varied, including fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea...
Eleven years ago, about two years after my brother was born, my Mother started having serious dygestion problems. She felt very ill whenever she ate certain things, and after a while, the doctors decided the problem was that she had a "lazy digestion".
She also noticed that whenever she ate milk or eggs, it made her feel even more worse, so she cut it out from her diet. After that, it seemed like she was getting better.
Five years ago, the symptoms came back and she started feeling ill again. Also, my sister appeared to have the same problem, and she, too, started to follow my Mother's diet.
At that time the doctors decided to try with Mamma a gastroscopy; they found an inflamation in her stomach, but said it was "nothing". A little later, she had a barium meal test, and nothing new was found.
By that time, they decided to cut out meat from their diet too. Then, three years ago, after severe ear infections, our uncle and her brother advised her to "give up calcium". That meant, besides milk and eggs and all that contained them, some vegetables, various meats (because of their many additives), all dried fruit, as well as some fresh fruit, citrics, and many, many other things. Mamma also started drinking special calcium-free water.
Till then, she'd visited 7 different digestion specialists, who all came to the conclusion that she needed a psychiatrist.
Then, it happened. A little more than two years ago, I started having stomach problems also, when I ate some things. I either doubled up with a terrible pain in my tummy, or I threw up what I had eaten. At first we were a little lost, but after some time, my Mother realised that I was having the same symptoms as she had. So it was decided that I was to follow the same diet, and eventually, I felt better.
This event also drove us to think that it might be something hereditary, because my Granny had, apparently, had the same problems we were having.
After cutting out the calcium in our diet, we started feeling better, but after a while, we got our problems again and got worse. Not even calcium free food felt better, and even drinking water hurt me.
At the beggining of last September, my Mummy made an apointment with a new digestion specialist from Argentina, who after a talk, decided to do a test for a parasite. He was specialised in tropical infections, and his very words were, "This sounds so much like a parasite!" So once the tests were done, we had to wait a month for the results. To me, it felt like an endless wait.
But the day came, and after a very bad day at school, I went home to a hurrying Mummy, who said, "Hurry up and eat your lunch, dear. I have to go to the hospital for the test results!"
Mamma went on her own, and I went to my homework. But when she came back, you can believe me when I say I rushed down the stairs and almost shouted, "So what did he say?¿?"
Mamma hugged me and said, "We're going to get better! We have a parasite!"
And we started to cry. What a great answer to our prayers! Yes, I can say that this illness was hard for me, because I enjoyed eating all the things I couldn't. And I also enjoyed staying up late, and I couldn't. I enjoyed being crazy and running, and swimming, and I couldn't. At first I had rebelled and was stubbornly determined that I wouldn't let this... problem, condition my life, and I had a hard time accepting it as part of God's plan for me... but...
Right now, and after the treatement, my Mummy and I are starting to eat normally, and gaining all the weight we had lost, as well as our strength. I am enjoying every bite of whatever I eat, and many friends say that they'll invite me to a drink such as horchata or milk&chocolate.
I am so grateful to God for answering my prayers on this matter, and for all the strength and help He gave me these past two years.
And I am sure, my friends, that God sent this illness my way so I would learn patience... and I'm not jokin.

Sung by Sarah Brightman and Alessandro Safina. My sister shared this video with me today, and I just can't stop singing it!

That's what I am right now! I'm so awed! I can't believe this has come true. But, friends, it has! I can say that it's a dream come true.
But I will explain myself. I will not let you discover it on your own, for it is my belief that it would be mighty difficult for you to do so, excepting a couple of close friends who already know the news. ;)
So the smashing news are that, Lord willing, I'll be going to Holland during my Christmas holidays! I'll be able to see my best friend!!! And I'll be able to have such a good time with her and her family!
I am so looking forward to it. I can't wait, I am so impatient already. I bought the plane tickets yesterday with my Papa's help, and was I excited last night!
I can't explain further. I'm too excited to put two words together so that they make sense. I don't know where to start explaining.
So I'll leave you till my head is cleared enough to be able to explain things. =)
Ta-ta!

Getting up early, yet being able to cuddle under the warm blankets for five minutes before getting out of bed and dressing.
Dressing however I like, without having to think if this looks nice together or if that is going to be comfortable for today's doings.
Working along with my parents, tidying up the house and taking care of having it clean and shiny.
Helping my little homeschooling brother in his maths, explaining everything to him so that he'll be able to understand, and spending time with him.
Being able to cook, sew, knit, write, read, blog!, whenever the work is done and I feel like it.
Playing my flute for hours and hours, or practising my songs on the piano, enjoying it and feeling that it's OK to do it.
Being able to help around the house.
And most important, being able to read my Bible whenever I please to, and learn from Him who inspired it.
All this is what I've chosen for the present.

When I'm not studying or writing an e-mail to a friend, I try to create. =) This is my photo blog's header... just experimenting.^^
How are you all doing?

"As to answering, though," said Sara, trying to console herself, "I don't answer very often. I never answer when I can help it. When people are insulting you, there is nothing so good for them as not to say a word - just to look at them and [b]think[/b]. Miss Minchin turns pale with rage when I do it, Miss Amelia looks frightened, and so do the girls. When you willl not fly into a passion people know you are stronger than they are, because you are strong enough to hold in your rage, and they are not, and they say stupid things they wish they hadn't said afterward. There's nothing so strong as rage, except what makes you hold it in - that's stronger. It's a good thing not to answer your enemies. I scarcely ever do. Perhaps Emily is more like me than I am like myself. Perhaps she would rather not answer her friends, even. She keeps it all in her heart."

For those who, even though I don't check blogs anymore, are still here with me and my blog, commenting and even awarding! Yes, thank you Gwyniver and Lib! :D
My life has been pretty busy till today, and it's getting busier by the minute. Just at this moment I'm writing an update for you, I should be studying Catalan, re-looking the Chemistry paper and doing a couple of Biology things! So appreciate it. :P
The big news, and I mean, BIG NEWS, is that I finally have my camera! My new camera. The camera my parents promised me for my birthday. It's a Canon EOS 1000D. I got it on Friday night, and I already think it's the best camera in the whole world! I've been experimenting and studying and looking and stuff, you know, and I'm having such a great time with it.
Plus, there are second bin news, which are big news too! A smashing new computer came along with the smashing new camera! And I just couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it for the first time!! I was so astounded, believe me.
As for school, the first week hadn't finished we already had our first exam lined up. Nice. :) Math exam, at that. But I like Maths, so I'm not worrying a lot.
Another big wow in my life lately has been Black Jack's appearance! Yes, yes, that cute little kitten Nuba had. He's home! He's ours! He's cute and sweet! I have such a grand time playing with him, though Scotty is terribly jealous of him. Oh well, he'll get over it.
So I'm hoping to post some more pictures now that I have this smashing new computer (I didn't do it that often before because the old laptop was soooo slow), and well, that's about it! I think about you all a lot and I often wonder what my bloggie friend are doing, so even though I don't post that much, I haven't forgotten you!

Wednesday was lazy and slow (by the way, I forgot to mention that I saw Tío D. on Thursday! I was so happy to see him, he is such a cool guy!), and in the afternoon I went to see how my little brother was doing at Mr. and Mrs. H.'s. We had a good time with the kids and their new kitten, but other than that, Wednesday wasn't a very busy day. I was thankful for the rest, though. Going to bed late and waking up early isn't something I like to do - much, and it does tire a body down, I admit. And I needed it, because next day...
Oh, Thursday was an awesome day that I did really and truly enjoy. We went to the Madrid Amusement Park, and it was a blast! I was able to ride on all the attractions I hadn't been able to ride two years ago because no one wanted to go with me.
Meaning, of course, the really wow attractions.
I rode the Tornado, the Lanzadera, the Abismo, the Tarantula, the Top Spin, the Fiords, the Rapidos, the Vertigo, the Skybacks, and two others; no, three others, I don't remember their names. And we repeated twice or three times each of them, so it was really A-W-E-S-O-M-E!

We stayed there the whole day, and I got soaked in a couple of water attractions. But, oh, it was worth it! Dennis won a plush-toy bee in a game and later gave it to me as a souvenir from them all. His name is Taxi.
I can't believe it yet, though, that the boys convinced Andy and I to go with them to "La Casa del Terror", or, literally translated, Terror's House! We screamed so much in there! It was very scary! Andy and I hadn't voice afterwards. It was truly scary, you never knew when a skeleton armed with an ax would sprang up from behind you screaming! I really felt scared in there.
Thursday was with no doubt my favourite day of the week.
Friday was a day of packing because we left for home that same afternoon. I bought myself some white high heels when we went to a mall for some last-minute shopping, and Mrs. M. bought (again!) Andy and I the same pair of shoes. Little red slipper-like shoes, very elegant and comfortable. She had done the same two years ago, but then they were small blue ballerina shoes.
We both wore the red shoes on our trip back home. Andy came with me to stay for a week too, so I didn't have the usual post-vacation "depression".
All in all, my week in Madrid was smashing, awesome and altogether unforgettable. I hope the story didn't bore you too much! :P

I do remember what we did after the Sunday meeting the next day. The service had been very inspiring, based on Psalm 119:105, and I enjoyed the meeting. It ended quite late, though, and we went to lunch directly after that, and did the same thing that we did two years ago... another family tradition: we had lunch in the Chinese restaurant in M40! I hadn't eaten Chinese food for such a long time, and I enjoyed the fun time with my friends at the end of the table. We even scribbled on the paper mats, shared drinks and teased each other. Such fun!
Then I left for the C.'s house, another family living two hours away from Madrid. Marylinn is another friend I have living around there, and I wanted to see her and her brother Joel now that I was there. I spent Sunday afternoon, night and Monday with them. We spent most of our time outside walking. Marylinn introduced me to her friends too, and we had good fun. One thing I do remember with a laugh is that Marylinn was addicted to ice-lollies and we continually were going to a shop to buy one, and the generous girl bought one for me too each time she bought one for herself! I ended up having a dozen lollies in one day!
There was a disturbing fact, though, and that was that her friends smoked - a lot, and kept inviting me to a cigar. I, of course, refused, but it bothered me because I was tempted to accept once because I don't like to refuse
offerings. Thank God, though, He gave me strength to fight the temptation and I didn't smoke at all.
When I was there I was able to visit Sigüenza's castle again. Such a beautiful, huge, majestic castle! It's a marvel it's still on foot, but there it is, proud and strong. I wonder how many sieges it survived.
Actually, I toured the whole little village again, (again because I'd been there almost two years ago), and it was fun because there were lots of people because of the local celebrations.

Marylinn took lots of pictures of us together, too, and would have taken plenty more if I wouldn't have left on Monday evening to return to Andy's house. The time spent in Sigüenza with Mary and Joel was precious, but I had, after all, gone to Madrid to see Andy.
So I was back at Andy's house and the first thing she tells me is "We have to do something special tomorrow with you because Jhona leaves for Valencia on Wednesday." I was kind of stunned at first, but grasped the situation in no time. It was soon agreed that we five teens would spend the day in the swimming pool. Then we would be joined by Dennis and would go out to supper and then to the cinema. And that's what we did!
That day was great. First, at the swimming pool we played at diving and finding a small orange stone, but we soon lost it and spent a lot of time looking for it. We didn't find it and finally gave up, but Jhona decided to use his huge, masculine ring to dice for and we lost it too. [chuckles] The situation was so funny! In the end I ended finding both things! Hahaha.
I got really tanned that day, and it was very funny too because I ended paying only 0'35 € for the entrance ticket instead of the 4'50€ price. What a wonderful idea a large family is. Oh, and to be "Just like a man", as Miss Cordelia from Anne's House of Dreams would put it, I must add that that day my sandwich was delicious (lettuce, tomato, egg...)
The film we watched that night was hilarious, too. Plus I was invited to Pringles, which are of my favourite crisps, but way too expensive to my income. Therefore, I hardly ever eat them, and so that night I got to eat Pringles and Lay's Vinaigrette crisps. My favourite!
That day was great. And that's it. End of Madrinistic Experiences Part Two!

Wow, it was sure special.
So yeah, some of you may be wondering, she's in college? And I'll answer, yep, I am. Note that college here isn't considered the same as University in USA. It's something post-obligatory, you do it if you choose to, and they are two years of studying before University. It's like they prepare you for your career, sort of like.
Anyway, today was my first day in my first year of college, and it was great. I have wonderful teachers; some of them I had last year or already knew them, and I'm sure I'm going to enjoy this year, though all the teachers made it clear it's nothing like High School, and absolutely not like its relaxed study. I'm somewhat intimidated by the hard study and I have in front of me, but I'm sure I'll adapt quickly and I'll be able to put up with it. My teachers are great teachers and I'm sure I'll learn a lot with them.
So, I woke up at 6.30 a.m., and read my Bible and prayer till 7.00 a.m., when I started getting ready, dressing, washing my hair, having breakfast, etc.
At about eight o'clock we left for school, and school started at 8.30. It was fun to see all of my school friends ten minutes before the bell rang, locating my class and, hey, for the first time in my life, in in Class B instead of A! *Freaks out* Oh well. I have plenty of new friends; well, people I've met. We're not friends yet, but I'm sure we will, in time. During the first three hours we had the usual getting to know the schedule, the teachers, the classrooms, etc. Then we had morning break, and after that we had like three speeches from the school director, the village's mayor, etc., and then we had free time 'till three p.m., when we college students leave.
So more or less, my schedule this year will be, getting up at 6.30, starting school at 8.30, morning break at 11.30, continue lessons at 12.00 and finishing at 15.00. Whew!
And I was also able to witness to a friend today! I was so happy to be able to share God with him, it felt like a blessing. On my first day of college, too!
How are you people doing with your own school work?

It is such a wonder that I am able to post this before starting school! I had my school bag on the to-do list during summer, but I kept putting it off telling myself that I had so much time ahead because I didn't need it till the 14th of September. Well, ladies and gentlemen, I didn't need it till the 14th of September, but I repeat, it's a wonder I am able to post these pictures before the said day! Because I've finished re-decorating it just today. It's a lesson against procrastinating, people!
Anyway, without further delay...

Wow, finally! I'm able to write down a little about my experiences as a girl who travelled to Madrid alone. Hehehehe. I will write them in parts, so a couple of posts will be scheduled.^^
Let me start from the beginning.

************************************

I arrived at Madrid - Puerta de Atocha on Thursday the 13th at a quarter past seven p.m., five minutes ahead of schedule. Andy was nowhere to be seen, but there were Heinz & Co. May I add that I served as a companion to my little brother on the trip. I had to leave him safely with one of his young friend's family and then continue on my own.
Well, his friends were there, but Andy and her family weren't. Oh well, I just had to wait for a while, because after some minutes they did appear, and Andy and I ran to each other and hugged like two little girls. In the middle of the station. In front of everybody. Oh well.
And so, I arrived at Madrid safely and went directly home. Well, at Andy's house, anyway. A delicious supper was ready and we had only to was our hands and sit down at the table. That is exactly what we did, and after finishing a delicious soup (but without bread... *sniff*) Andy's father, Mr. G., suggested we all went to the park outside, and so we did. It was a huge park, full of small hills, paths, a play park, a lake, and lots of space with grass. It's the perfect place to dream. A place with scope for imagination. I actually stood by the lake, opened my arms and started singing "My Heart Will Go On". It was dark, and a couple of stars were shining, and the lights of the city far away were reflected on the lake's surface. It was lovely.
But there is where the true me appeared. I lost my cell phone! Andy and I started playing on the grass, jumping and summer-salting and running and all these kind of grass games, and suddenly I didn't have my cell phone in my pocket. I started to despair, because on top of everything, it was on vibration mode, so it wouldn't sound if we called it. We even went back home to get lanterns.
Andy found it in the end, but only after about a half an hour or more of searching for it. Yikes! Welcome to Madrid, girl.

Of course, sometimes it was awkward because they aren't Christian people, and their language was appalling, but besides that, we really had a lot of fun.
And I repeat, we had lots of ice-lollies.
Saturday was a full, busy day. We went to bed very late on Friday, and had to get up at 7 a.m. on Saturday, so for the first couple of hours I was kind of zombie-like, much like a ghost. We had to go to the sports-centre. Actually, it was a long tradition in Andy's family. Every Saturday they go early to the sports-centre to play football and basketball, and later they spend the rest of the day in the swimming-pool before leaving for prayer meeting. They had done that the last time I went, two years ago, and it seemed like we would do it again!
So at seven a.m., a very hated alarm clock went off. At least it was a melody that was soothing, and I didn't throw the cell phone out of the window. I quickly arranged myself because Andy had told me that her uncle didn't like to wait, and was ready after about half an hour, shower, breakfast and all. Wow. I didn't know I could do that!
In the end it turned out we had to wait for him for something I don't remember, and after more than half an hour's delay, Mrs. M., Andy's mother, ended up taking us to the place. We arrived there at about 8.30 a.m., and it was lovely. The sun shone but it was fresh, as if it had rained before. We didn't suffer much heat for a couple of hours, and we were all very thankful for that.
I got to meet Santi that morning! He is Tío G. and Tía O.'s first son! (I call all of Andy's uncles and aunties as if they were mine. They all like it). The baby was barely eight months old, and was already walking. He is the sweetest baby, and he had such chubby cheeks! He wasn't scared of me - wow! -, actually he is a very loving baby. I was able to take many pictures of him playing with his ball and crawling around, and when I picked him up because he asked for it hugging my legs, he grabbed at my half-heart necklace my best friend gave to me. He liked it a lot.
Let's just say that I didn't play football and just messed around with the basketball ball. I'm not a very sporty girl. In fact I only enjoy playing volleyball - though I'm no good at it - and swimming. And of course, messing around and laughing at each other's attempts at playing basketball. Ahem.

I mentioned before two reviews I had written on some books I had read, and said that I would post them here. So here you go!

The Stonwycke Trilogy by Michael Phillips and Judith Pella (The Heather Hills of Stonewycke, Flight From Stonwycke and The Lady of Stonewycke)
As a started, I must say that it's a good thing that I had the whole trilogy to read instead of only one book, or even two. The three books are so attached it would be near to impossible to read only one of them. Except for the last book (obviously), all books finish abruptly, leaving you in a terribly intriguing way with the ended book in your hands.
On the other hand, you wouldn't even have to finish the book to be intrigued. Chapters would often finish leaving you to wonder what was going to happen, and when you continued with the next chapter, this one would start with a totally different subject that kept you reading till the end to know what happened after the last chapter.
Let's say that these books were written to be read from start to end.
I have enjoyed reading these books, but I noticed a couple of things that weren't to my taste: one was that the author made the hero/heroine go through every trouble, disgrace and problem that could be dreamed up. It wasn't like that something happened and the he/she had to face and solve it. No, everything bad happened; it was even exaggerated, and it drove me up the wall the way all the nasty things piled on them.
Truth be said, though, that I really live books and spent half the time crying, so maybe it's just my way of seeing things.
Another thing I didn't altogether like was the speed with which everything gets solved. Meaning, there have been all these problems and disgraces that are actually the whole content of the three books, and then in the third and last one everything gets solved in just a few pages. No development of what happens when they actually solve everything. Only one scene is properly described to my taste on this subject.
There are many things in the books that I did enjoy, though. One thing that really caught my attention was the way forgiveness was pictured in the Trilogy. In all three books there is a part where one main character turns to God for forgiveness, and after some time learns to forgive those who have caused his/her grief, and even has to learn to forgive himself. It really made me ponder about the play forgiveness took on these books, and I did finally see that once we are forgiven, we are saved, but if we also learn to forgive we find His peace. With hate and bitterness against someone in our hearts we aren't capable to enjoy His love in its full measure.
A beautiful lesson can be learnt from these books.
And of course... I couldn't miss it... I find that I must mention the love story that takes part in the plot... a story of unconditional love, a patient love, a love that waits for ever. A love that protects and believes. (Spoiler) Even after nearly thirty years of believing each other dead, they still cling to their love for each other, and when they finally find out that both are alive, they have their reward for their patience and trust in God.
I can say nothing more that wouldn't spoil the story for those who want to read it... but all in all, I recommend the read of these books. Out of five starts, I'd give three and a half.

Dana's Valley by Janette Oke
This book was extremely emotional. My parents gave me permission to stay up late one night, and I settled down with the book at about half past ten p.m. At about half past one or quarter to two a.m. I had finished reading it, and had cried all through the book. Really, it was a very challenging book to keep on reading, and heart-breaking.
Dana was a young teenager who was suddenly diagnosed with leukaemia (I say suddenly because they had told her first that she had lupus, a common yet dangerous illness in teenage girls). She was one of four in a Christian family, but even in a book, it was ripping to read about the kids' struggles and pains as the family battles along with Dana during her illness.
Dana's patience and growing faith was astonishing, but also a big contrast to Erin (the main character) and her wavering and weakening faith as her world and dreams crumple around her because of her sister's illness, and to Brett's own situation as he struggles along his late teen years without his parents' attention; consequently, both turn away from God's ways and refuse to believe Him in control of the situation.
Corey was the only one who somewhat kept everyone going on with his childlike view of the situation and six-year-old faith, diligently praying every day.
Janette Oke's writing really is to my pleasing. I really like the way in which this book finished, and the way she developed the end. How Erin talked to her Mother and Father, how she thought about her relationship with her Christian friends, especially Graham's, the pastor's son, and how Dana served to her as an example to turn again to God for help and comfort and starts praying again; how Brett considered his situation and his friends (he had gotten into skateboarding and had not very good friends from the skate-park), how he had gone to live on his own after leaving High School, how he thought about his role as the older brother of a dying girl; the end of this book really pleased me, though I cried all the more when it ended because of Dana's death.
When I closed the book after finishing it, I couldn't help but close my eyes and pray. This book was a challenge, but yet it was beautiful to read. The way God mends souls! He is far so much greater than what we can imagine Him to be.
I also recommend this book!