March

March has been an interesting month so far to say the least. It started out normal with work and school and being able to go places. The week right before spring break for my work, I had a feeling as I was driving home that Friday that we probably wouldn't be going back for at least a few weeks given this thing called the coronavirus, and I was right. A lot of things have changed, there is no march madness or baseball right now which is weird, school and work are remote, my dad, sister and myself are all working from home and we each have our designated areas. I'm sure my mom, my aunt and my dogs are getting used to all of us being home all the time. I'm not quite used to it though. Getting out and taking my dogs for walks each day helps so that I don't go stir crazy. Playing guitar, sitting in the swing with a cup of tea in the evenings and watching Christmas movies helps. With all the change, I do think there is a lesson in it for us all, and that is to slow down some. When we slow down we have time to try something new or practice something we already know. Another thing to learn is not forgetting about small businesses in this current time. I have family members that own small businesses, and supporting small business is important. One of my cousins owns a bookstore in Thomasville, GA. It's called the Bookshelf, and you can buy what you want online and they'll mail it to you. That's genius. I bought myself a new book and an awesome t-shirt. Supporting the small businesses during this weird time is definitely worth it and will be even more worth it in the long run when they're still in business because of our support.

What are you doing to help out others during this crisis? How are you spending all your time at home when you're not working?

College

In the fall of 2015 I began my college career at TCC. When I first started I wasn't very confident and I was pretty shy. As time went on, I made the connection with one of my professors that we used to live in the same neighborhood and from there my confidence levels began to rise. Each semester my professors have been more than just teachers, they have become my friends. I go to their offices when I need a little extra assistance on an assignment, I say hey when I see them walking on campus or at the store, and I always thank them at the end of each semester.
Fast forward now to my final semester at the community college. Three of my four professors are ones that I have taken before. Each of these professors and ones from past semesters has helped me build confidence from the first time I set foot on campus. As I prepare to graduate with my A.A. degree in the spring, I enjoy looking back on the impact that each individuals has had on me and I'm excited for whatever my next steps will be.

Mother's

Mother's day is here once again. I spend a lot of time with my mom and she is one of my best friends. Usually I'm a little late figuring out what to give my mom for Mother's Day, but this year is different. I've already given her one gift; I took her to a baseball game. My other gift to her this year is still a secret, because it's not quite Sunday yet!

Moms are special. They give us grace and they love us unconditionally. Over the years my mommy as well as my aunts and friends who are like mothers to me have taught me a lot of things. They've shown me how to have fun, give grace, love people even when its hard, and most importantly, they've shown me Jesus's love. So happy Mother's day to my mommy and all my extra moms!

Grandma

This morning my mom woke me up like she usually does but she also informed me that my Grandma had passed away earlier this morning. Some people might react with tears, or needing a hug. I react through writing. My Grandma had been ill for a couple years and it was an illness that made it hard for her to breathe. I have such fond memories of some things I did with her and will share a few of them. I won't ever forget making fudge with her when I was little because there is a picture that hangs in my house each May for mother's day. There was also the time we went to Disney together and it was just fun to be there riding rides with her. Finally last week my family made a short trek to visit her and she kind of picked on me since I watch Hallmark Channel. Grandma said "Look its something Caroline would watch". I said your right, Grandma, I do love Little House on The Prairie. I am blessed that God let me have such fun times with my Grandma. Rest in peace and give Grandpa a hug for all of us.

Mama

Today is September 13th, also known as mama's birthday. She would have been 95 today and we all miss her like crazy. Now that she has  been gone almost 2 years I still am not used to the empty chair at the dinner table. I know the angels are probably singing happy birthday to her as we think and remember her on this day that she was born on exactly 95 years ago, which was also a Friday the 13th. She was the best grandma a kid could have ever wanted and I am still happy to tell of the great person she was and that I am extremely honored to carry on her legacy of loving others just like she did. I can almost hear her singing around the house like she did so often. Happy 95th birthday mama, we love and miss you!

Hope was Here

This month I have read a book called Hope was Here by Joan Bauer. This book was very engaging from the minute I opened the book to read it. It's a book that you don't really want to put down when it is time to go to bed. There were a few  minor things that the author could have done a little better.Things that appealed to me in this book were the characters, Hope dreaming of her father, and G.T. becoming mayor after all. Non appealing things to me was that when a chapter ended it started something different than what you just read, that Hope's mother just dumped her off on her aunt, and that G.T died and didn't get to finish his term as mayor.Overall, I loved this book and wish to read it again sometime.

Bean Trees

 I read a book this month called Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver. It was an interesting book that engaged a reader from the beginning. The things I liked about this book are: it's an easy read, the characters, and it kind of reminded me of Emily of New Moon by L.M. Montgomery. The thing I did not like about this book were: the pages at the end of the chapter that don't help bring you into the new one,the language, and lots of complaining by one of the characters. Overall, I would recommend this book to anybody who wants to read it. I really enjoyed this book because it just made me want to be outside enjoying spring weather like the characters were.

Fault in our Stars

 The Fault in our Stars by John Green is not your average book. The main character of this book is a 16 year old girl named Hazel who has thyroid cancer with mets(fluid) in her lungs. Once a week, Hazel goes to a church for support group(people who have cancer),and share how they are doing. One afternoon at support group,Hazel meets Augustus Waters who is 17 and has osteosarcoma(which left him with one leg). Augustus loved Hazel, but she just wanted to be friends, until he used his wish to go to Amsterdam and take Hazel with him. Once they get back from Amsterdam,Augustus's health starts to fail until....he dies exactly one month after they got back from Amsterdam.
 Over all, this was a good book. I would have liked to know what happend to Hazel or Isacc. I also thought the book should have ended after Augustus died just because it doesn't really make sense after that. Also, I thought that Hazel and Augustus should have gotten married.

Inspiration

  I have a pretty big family that consits of a host of aunts,uncles,and cousins. Today the person in my family who inspires me is my Uncle Chris. Uncle Chris and I have the same personality type: a protector (ISFJ). Some of my favorite things about him are: when he does the singing at church, he loves his family, and that we share an enjoyment for the Mannheim Steamrollers. Uncle Chris also does a lot to make his house and yard always look nice. When he's not working, you can catch him playing golf with a friend, or spending time with his family. I love Uncle Chris!                  

Inspiration

 I have a lot of people in my life who inspire me and this week the person who is inspiring to me is my mom. My mother likes to spend time with her husband, children, and dogs. She is the youngest of eight children and has a giving heart. My mom is always finding ways to help and reach out to others and share Jesus' love with them. My mom also enjoys going to the beach,gardening,and cooking. I love my mom!

Painting

My aunt likes to paint by number while sitting by a window that has a beautiful view of a pool. She began painting about five years ago to give her something new and fun to do in retirement. It has been such a great and challenging hobby, and I think you might like it too!

There are many things you need to get before you start painting by number. The first thing you'll need is paint brushes, which you can buy from a local craft store like Joann Fabrics. My aunt also uses colored markers to make sure the colors in the painting are kept separated; you might want to buy those as well. The next thing you'll need are some paint colors and a magnifying glass, which helps you see the numbers easily while you are painting. Don't forget to buy a boxed kit for your painting project. The kit will include the picture, the paints, and a sheet or little picture of what you will be painting. This will help guide you in your painting.

Last but not least, let's be neat and not mix up any of the numbers. If you see an eight when there is a really a one, you might be painting the wrong color in the wrong spot.

After you have finished painting, you will want to go back with your colorful marker and make sure you have painted in the lines and kept all of the colors separate. Take a step back, and you'll see a beautiful masterpiece.

Now that you have done your proofing of your painting, you are ready to enjoy it, or give it to a friend or family member for them to enjoy. Happy painting!

Inspiration

 I have a lot of people in my life who inspire me, but the one person i'm going to mention who inspires me this week is my cousin, annie. Annie is more than just a friend and cousin, she is a fuzzin. She is also my teacher for school and runs a bookstore channeling her inner Kathleen Kelly. Annie is an intellegent, funny, and caring person who loves her family and friends. Annie has one sibling, a brother, named Chet, a husband named Jordan, and a cute dog named Junie B. Annie is also a fantastic bible class teacher for both little and older kids. I thought this would be a great way to let Annie know how she inspires me. I love Annie!

Just Thinking

Hi Everyone,

Caroline came to me a couple of weeks ago and asked if she could share her thoughts in an upcoming Ray of Sonshine. I told her yes and below is what she sent to me. She exemplifies 1 Tim 4 verse 12, Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit,^[b] in faith, in purity. (NKJV) I hope you enjoy her thoughts and get to know her better.We continue to pray for you and love you very much. Ray

Hello and thank you for letting me do this guest "post" on this week's Ray of Sonshine. I listen to spiritual songs in the car, and when I work out. It is inspiring stuff perhaps you could try it too. In my daily bible class I’ve been learning about an upper and lower story and it has called me to think more about putting beliefs into action.Where I belong is a song that I've been listening to recently. One of the lines in this song is, “take this world and give me Jesus.” I have three points to share with you all. Get away from all the distractions of this world and go from 7am-7pm without looking at a computer, cellphone, IPad, or IPod. My second thought is show people Jesus by helping others in need, help an elderly person put groceries in their car, invite someone to church. Last but not least, share a smile with those around you. So as I wrap up I offer 2 verses and 2 challenges.

1st verse is in Matthew 28 where it talks about going out into all the nations and sharing the good news. The 2nd verses are 1Timothy 4:15¹⁵ Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. (NKJV) Like the song says, take time to be holy.

My 1st challenge for you is to listen to some Christian music if you don't already, (I'm willing to make a cd if you like.) 2nd challenge is give up all the technology distractions for a day each week. Turn off all those devices from like 7am and don't get them back until 7pm and then use all that time you to focus on Him.

I will continue to pray for all of you and hope that you have a great rest of this week.

For a better walk with Him and each other, love all of you guys!

The Westing Game

 The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin was about an apartment building called Sunset Towers. Sam Westing the owner of the property of this building was a guy who liked to play games with others..as in he was leaving his fortune to some unknown, unrelated person that he knew. There would be a competition to see who would get his fortune after he deceased. The game said that the last one alive in Sunset Towers would get the inheritance of Sam Westing. Turtle was the last one alive and turned the apartment building into the Wexler-Theodorakis mansion, where she spent Saturday afternoons with her niece, Alice playing chess.

Backwater

  Backwater by Joan Bauer, was about a girl named Ivy, who just wanted to find out about her family's history. Ivy was always reserching about her family in her free time. She also had a love for history just like her mother did. Dan, Ivy's dad, wanted Ivy to get a law degree instead of a history degree. Dan was always pushing Ivy to be serious about her studies, and to not research about her family until after her homework was done. Ivy loved to read, find out about her family, and long strolls admiring nature.
  One day Ivy decided that she wanted to go find out about one lost relative that none of her family wanted anything to do with. A few days later, Ivy set out with Mountain Mama, the ranger, who would guide her in the wilderness to her aunt. On the way to Ivy's aunt Jo, they met a guy named Jack who was training to become a guide. When Ivy got to her aunt Jo's house she asked if she could be picked up in two days, so Mountain Mama left her with her aunt. Ivy spent two whole days getting to know all about her aunt Jo. While Ivy was with her aunt Jo the roof caved in, and she rescued her aunt, but both of them ended up having to go to the hospital. Both Ivy and her aunt lived and recovered, and were happier because aunt Jo was back to being in the Breedlove family history.

poetry

 Reading poetry is fun. It can get you into an imaginative place and you don't want to put the book down. Prose is more like a short story. It can also get you into an imaginative place but you don't find out what happens in the end.
 I read a few poems last week but my favorite one was The Road Not Taken by Rober Frost. In this poem it was talking about two roads one being taken fairly often and one not really getting taken at all. Both of the roads in this story are the same and we should not all take the same road cause it will get busy. We need to be bold and take the road that isn't taken so we can be more like Jesus.

Play ball

  This past July I turned 16. It was one of the most memorable birthday weeks ever. Two days before my birthday my family and I headed to Tampa, Fl for a birthday present from my grandma. We got there and had some hanging out time at the hotel and then went to the pier. At the pier we all ate dinner with a view of water and the sunset. After we ate dinner at the pier, we went back to the hotel and visited until about midnight. The next day we woke up early, had breakfast, and then layed in bed until we had to get ready to leave to go to the baseball game that the Red sox were playing against the Rays. When we got to the park I was excited. One of the people there told a Red sox player on the field that it was my birthday and he threw me a ball during batting practice. After we had enough fun watching batting practice it was time to go find our seats. We got to the section our seats were for and asked which row they were for so the usher pointed us all the way down to the field (as in the front row). The front row was pretty cool but you really had to pay attention. Sitting with my dad,mom,sister,aunt,and grandma was the best birthday present a girl coud have ever asked for.

reading/listening

 Reading poetry and watching poetry are two very different things. While watching poetry you are seeing how someone else interpret  and feels about a poem. When you are reading poetry you can change your voice to sound like the writer wanted you to or you can even be graphic and use hand motions while reading poetry. Reading poetry lets my imagination go in action so then I get into it, while watching poetry might be nice I can't let my imagination go in action because I don't really get into it when i'm watching it. I enjoy reading poetry because I can be myself and it lets my imagination have fun while doing so.

Autumn

  Autumn is known best as fall. Fall is a time of year where the temperatures are not too hot, not too cold, but the temperature is just right. The things I love most about fall are the leaves changing colors, the cooler temperatures, and the perfectly blue sky with only a few clouds.
   The leaves changing from green to red or orange is a picture perfect sight. Cooler temperatures
are my favorite when they are in the mid 70s during the day and high 50s at night. The perfectly blue sky with only a few clouds in the sky is my all time favorite part of fall because it seems like the sky can't get any more blue than it already is. I love fall.






 

Short stories

  Leo Tolstoy and F. Scott Fitzgerald both write short stories. Short stories are different from other works of literature because of how the author chooses to engage the reader. Another difference of short stories and works of literatue is that short stories often tell about something that is real happend whereas works of literature are make believe type stories.
  I enjoy reading short stories because they make me feel like I am part of the story. I also like that short stories get me from the start. I don't like that short stories are short, I wish they were longer because sometimes the author leaves you wondering what happens next. Sometimes short stories jump from one thing to the next without a transition. Overall I like reading short stories.