Writer Siblings

We finally named our sibling writing group--the Sardines. Here we are smashed in the backseat with our writing tools on the way to the world's best CHRISTIAN coffeeshop to meet with friends. Lots of laughter and writing accomplished! :D

A Writing Marathon

This November some of the kids signed up for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month-- when writers all around the world write 50,000 word novels in 30 days). 

 Emma made a 'Happy NaNoWriMo' sign for the first day of November, featuring many of the works-in-progress.

Betsy surprised the crazy authors with delicious snacks and what has been dubbed 'NaNo-tea'!

The writers set up desks and set to work.

Welcome to the deep, dark, writer's cave...enter at your own risk. ;)

Paul and Anna are doing the full-out NaNoWriMo and have been chipping away at their 50,000 word goal. 

The younger girls signed up for the NaNo branch called 'Young Writers Program' where they can set their own word goals, and have been doing fantastically! 

BB's novel is titled "The Candy Shop Kids' and is so adorable! We can't wait to read it!

Word counts for Day 1... you know you're too short when the camera has to be tilted to avoid cutting off your brother's head. ;)

 A silly selfie with all but one of the writers, and their brainstorming buddy, Kate.

Working hard on that novel!

"Where there's a Willis there's a way!"

He DID IT!!!!

Patriot's Song

Joy flooded across the nation and everyone celebrated in one accord. Tough times and complete disaster had crashed down on the American people when the stock markets did, and then the second, terrible, world war had come. For five, long, bitter years it had raged, tearing at the hearts and homes of so many around the country. It had crept away now, as quietly as it had come, leaving behind a gaping wound, a vacant chair at the table.

A lone girl crept down steep, basement steps to where the church had held numerous canteens for soldiers on leave too far from home. Counting the familiar steps, Charity made her way through the impenetrable black. Her knee hit into something, and she vaguely remembered a chair being tossed aside in the mad scramble after the victory news.

On quiet feet, she crossed to a well-loved piano at one end of the room and rested her hands on the worn keys. Something irresistible called her to sit once more on the bench and play again, this time for an altogether different audience.

Warm light suddenly flooded onto the top few basement steps from the church kitchen above where a few women had stayed late into the night to clean. The young girl sitting in the hazy grey darkness before her piano could hear them quietly bustling about overhead and felt a bit of comfort when someone began softly humming a hymn.

Charity’s finger slowly traced a name scratched into the wood and a chiseled face flashed before her eyes. I wonder where he is tonight, she mused.

She could picture Trent leaning against a brick building, with his hands in his pockets, gazing off into nowhere, but he turned his head when she spoke. “Mr.. ur, Trent?” “Hm?” “Who is Katie?” she had whispered softly. “My little sister back home. Why?” he asked. The girl read a loneliness in his voice not expressed in words, and an aching wish to help swelled up in her throat. Tears filled up her eyes and threatened to spill into her voice. “You called me Katie back there.”

She smiled, though it wasn't without pain, and moved her hand to one after another, stories, hopes, and fears flooding back to her with each one. Her shining, brown eyes smiled as she remembered how precious the church’s cherry wood upright had been to her to the point where everyone thought of it as “that little girl’s piano” and how she had guarded the thing with fierce devotion. So many things were heaps more important to her now, and the thousands of names scrawled into it’s finish were more priceless than anything.

“Hey, you in here, Johnny? We’re wanted back at base; word just came we’re shipping out in the hour. Johnny?” The words rang in the girl’s ears, making her startle and look around, half expecting to see the anxious man that had burst into that same room months ago. Johnny drew a deep breath that sounded more like a sigh, and then he called, “Be there in a second.” Young, dough-faced Johnny had tweaked her hair and said with a wry grin,  “Thanks for everything. Keep playing songs to gladden our boys. I won’t forget how you’ve put happiness back into my heart.” The next time she had seen that face it was grey from pain and pale against the whiteness of the hospital bed. He hadn’t forgotten. A truly cheerful grin flashed across his face at sight of her, and he had promptly said, “I suppose the nurse wouldn’t let your piano tag along?”

The girl slipped her hand into her sweater pocket and closed it around a telegram. He wouldn’t ever smile on this world again.

Thoughtfully, she began to pick out a few strains on the keyboard then dropped her hand to her lap, something dampening her eyelashes and sticking in her throat. “Oh God, please protect them!” she breathed and a torrent of tears came rushing to her.

A breeze moved her strawberry hair, and Charity thought she heard a deep laugh as an navy cap flopped over her eyes. “A bit too big, I’d say,” shouted one merry fellow slouching nearby. Giggling, she put her hand up to adjust it and everything vanished.

Disappointment washed over the girl, sitting alone in the still, quiet basement. She looked around at the bare walls and wondered if this were the first time the floor had really been clean since five years. She didn’t like the silence. It just wasn’t right. Her hands slowly wandered over the ivory keys, echoing the melancholy in her throat as the chords rose and fell in volume. Suddenly a memory brought a smile into the song and the melody quickened.  

Closing her eyes she remembered how it had been. Her fingers fairly pranced along the familiar keys playing a favorite melody the soldiers had requested over and over at one canteen.

Laughter and singing floated up the basement steps of Christ’s Victory Church and out to the quiet, sleeping street as a group of soldiers pushed open the door and stepped into the warmly lit room. A sight of merry chaos met their eyes. Soldiers, turned boys again for the night, danced with girls in the middle of the room, men lounged on benches along the wall, and others darted here and there laden with heaping trays of sandwiches and cookies. The church folk melted easily into the masses of service men, and the whole crowd was turned into one jolly bunch braving the dull truth the night air told them.

Peeking over the piano her brown eyes could search the sea of faces before her. They were full with the things she had seen in her 12 years, full as her heart was. She caught sight of a young, haunted looking boy in uniform hanging back along the walls, and pain washed over her face when she remembered another like him who hadn’t ever come back. She longed to cheer him, to listen to his fears, and be the sister he’d left at home.

Ducking beneath the top of the piano, she had tried to concentrate on the jumble of notes that blurred before her eyes. Someone sat quietly beside her on the bench, and a strong hand caressed the cherry wood front. “This your piano, miss?” a manly voice had asked in a soft tone. She smiled up into a care-worn face, with a scar across one cheek. “Not exactly, sir, but I feel so,” came the shy answer. There was a long companionable silence in which the song came to an end and the dancers disbursed to fall upon a woman laden with food.

Charity paused in her playing and stared into space. Her mind traveled back to a prayer meeting three years ago. She had only been nine then but the quick message beforehand had stayed with her and would produce itself in vivid recollection during many a hard time.

“This war has ripped savagely at most everyone, but it cannot defeat us, no. Evil never can wholly defeat God’s people. It may get them down for a time, but God gives us strength for the ‘morrow! Courage to fight back!”

Launching into “Onward Christian Soldiers” she could almost hear the pastor now, bellowing courage to the congregation. “Let each of us fight our best wherever God has placed us! Let us arrive in heaven all used up.” With his words, her music softened, strains of “In the Sweet By and By” sprinkled among the flowery chords. The pastor had leaned forward, elbows on his pulpit, and an earnestly joyful spark in his eyes.  “And God will give you a whole, new you,” he whispered, and the church rustled as each member leaned eagerly forward to catch his next tenderly spoken words. “And He’ll say, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You used yourself up for Me, just like I did for you.”

A great feeling of peace washed over Charity, and she continued playing as though in a cozy, deliciously sweet dream. “Never give up. Never give in. Do not grow weary of giving yourself for others--for Christ”

The comforting words lingered in her mind, as the girl’s head sank wearily to the piano, pillowed in her arms. Her lips moved slightly as the everlasting song inside her lulled the patriot to sleep.

“We shall sing on that beautiful shore the melodious songs of the blessed. And our spirits shall sorrow no more, not a sigh for the blessing of rest.”

http://noblenovels.weebly.com/anna

The Three in Common

This is what happens when you throw together three highly creative writers in one place and have nothing for them to do but write a hilarious story together! Enjoy!

Three in Common

Titus had convinced him and he had agreed too soon. Now he needed to find the three in common. But first he had to figure out exactly what that meant.

When preparing for a strange quest, the best step is to start with breakfast. Breakfast clears the mind and lightens the heart. Two very good things. 

The man on the mission sought for his bicycle, mounted it, and sought for a good breakfast. He began in front of Pete's Pancakes, turned on the corner by Gertrude's Griddlecakes, crossed the street at Fortunate Flapjack, and continued. Then his bicycle stopped dead in its tracks and he stopped with it to scratch his head.
There was something strange about the restaurants he had just passed. There were three of them and he found they all had crepes in common. His face went white as he considered his future. He had promised Titus that he would eat every pancake his mission led him by. 

          The End

Snowman and Package: Companion Stories by Kate

Over the holidays Kate wrote two stories for the writing blog she, Anna, and Pearl are a part of, and I promise you will enjoy them! 

Package is written during that confusing between time where you're not sure if it's too late to sing Christmas songs or too early to sing New Years songs. It's witty, creative, and lovable! Here is an excerpt...Enjoy! 

"Holding the package tightly in one arm, she slammed her door shut and hurried up to the shining glass doors. No address on her package yet. She was crazy to be doing this.

“Last minute gift, eh?” a voice said, and she looked up to see the young man who had been standing there dusting snow off his coat.

He was holding the door for her; and, as she moved through it, she said with a bright smile, “That’s right. I do hope they get it in time for Christmas day.”

As he followed her through the door, she noticed he was looking at the package. “No address, I know. I really don’t know who it’s for yet.” She grinned sheepishly.

He lifted one eyebrow but didn’t ask any more questions. She found herself strangely glad. This was getting awkward. How was she supposed to take her package up to the counter and tell the clerk that she wanted to send a package but she didn’t know where?"

Snowman is the companion to Package and is written from the perspective of a friendly, lonesome country mailman on Christmas Eve. 

Just so y'all know, it is a very well written, captivating, humorous (we had the best country mailman, and he sounds a bit like Blake ;P), clever, and well worth reading!!! It's got a nice cozy feel that pulls you into the snow (so to speak) along side the gallant, bachelor of a mailman for God! Hop on over to her page on Noble Novels and read it!! It will encourage you and put a smile on your face that I promise will effect you perspective towards what God brings your way!

"He made his decision. Finishing off his coffee, he declared, "Minstrel, old girl. This snowman super hero on a Christmas mail mission for God is going in. You are going with him because it's too cold for you to stay that long in the truck."

Jumping out, he opened the door for her like a true gentleman and tucked the mail into the front of his overcoat. "It's going to be a long walk, but one of our New Year's resolutions was going to be more exercise. We'll survive.""

If you enjoyed these stories, you might also enjoy her other Christmas short stories on http://noblenovels.weebly.com/kate . 

Autumn Rose and the Perfect Gift

Autumn Rose and the Perfect Gift Part 2

Smiles in Their Hearts

Spray Bottles, Dragons, and a Makeshift Choir

Summer days in this baking desert have been very full of work, play, family, and community. So many things to be grateful for!!
I'm grateful for...

• My nephews--Bobbers, Lum, and Beef Stew (or Stewy). Each one of them has touched my life so much in their own little ways. We were so happy to have them live with us, but we're also very glad for them that they have their own little house. ; )
• Being able to help Perry and Tyler move. It was great to be able to see their house and help unpack some things. What a cute little house for a cute little family!
• My chaperoning job. I've gotten to do it five days in the last week or so! ; ) I really enjoy hanging out with the cute happy people and serving them in this way. (And it pays really well too. My "clients" treat me to all sorts of yummy things, and when they went to Prescott I got to go too. Hooray for cool weather!) ;P They are so considerate and inclusive (as any two courting people can be). ;P  It's a joy to be with them!
• The old Jimmy Stewart movie "You Can't Take It With You". Wow! It is so awesomely funny! If you ever want a glimpse of what our life is like--watch that movie! We had a family movie night with that and some yummy microwave popcorn.
• Bible Bee hive meetings. My memorization partner is such a joy! Hi, Hannah!
• The Green Ember by S.D. Smith. Don't let the Beatrix Potter style cover fool you! It's a full-blown, amazingly written adventure! Very good!
• The Restoration Hardware store! *Alice steps into Wonderland* *Angels sing* *Kate goes crazy*
• Singing in a makeshift choir after church. Thank you, Paul and Matthew for setting it up!! It was so much fun. We had a great time singing to the Lord, and it was surprisingly good sounding for a bunch of people who hadn't practiced together before. ; ) One of the newcomers to church actually thought we were a choir which flattered us all immensely. Very good times. ; )
• Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Aimee's generous Man brought us a sampler of them. It was so much fun to test them out. (Thank you, Aimee's Man!)
• The sweet texts we're getting from Perry telling us all the cute things that the babies are doing. We taught Lum part of the cup game while they live here, and he just decided to do part of it today! ; )
• Little friends at church! So many of them came up to greet me and give me hugs or hang on my arm as I was talking to someone older.
• Matching my two littlest sisters at church. We wore red skirts and white shirts. ; ) It was so fun! (Every time Daddy would say, "Where's so and so?" I'd just say, "She's in a red skirt.") ; ) 
• Hilarious family discussions of whether or not the word "both" could mean more than two. Google may have settled the issue. For now... ; )
• Music. I'm loving Josh Groban's instrumental "The Wandering Kind (Prelude)", almost everything by the PianoGuys, and "The Cup Song". Here's the original version of it from the movie.(Please note that these links are on YouTube, so be careful to guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Also, "The Cup Song" does unfortunately have a reference to drinking, but what I enjoy about that song is its sound.) Great background music for working in the kitchen or any time the mood needs a little lightening! ; )
• A fresh notebook and about four story ideas! County fair story here I come! Children's picture book second draft here I come! Dragons and chimney sweeps story here I come! Robin Hood, Peter Pan, Queen Susan, and King Arthur all in one story here I come! (I know, the last two story ideas are crazy. I love them.)
• Crazy family spray bottle fights. Wow, enough said there. O.o.
• Our sweet dog Ella. (Lum calls her "Lella".) Love. ; )
• Danny Kaye. We were laughing over our favorite parts in his old movies ridiculously late last night. ; )
• The love of God, so rich and pure, all measureless and strong.

Today what are you grateful for?

Originally posted by Kate at http://thesacramentofliving.blogspot.com/

The Sacrament of Living- A Sisters' Blog

For more Willister craziness follow The Sacrament of Living written by the three oldest in our family.

Death to a Pig

I know you are probably wondering what this could be about?! It's really a funny story. Years back we bought a pig. Not a real live, squealing pig. A cute, stuffed, pink pig. It sat upright on its little tail and its ears poked up vigilantly. And of course you've got to sew a plastic gold ring to its snout, and set it up on a shelf  next to the bathroom mirror!

"As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a lovely woman who lacks discretion."(Proverbs 11:22, NKJV)

As we've moved from house to house we've always carried her with us as a reminder. Then the dog found her. She grabbed its leg in her mouth and whipped it around, playing tug-o-war, and ripping viciously at its little curly tail. We all agreed it was hers to keep. Not long later, Aimee found a plastic eyeball, the pig gutted and in bits. And so passes the pig...righteously judged.

Church Picnic

Guess what we've been doing...

Helping put on a Church Picnic! 

 The schedule was packed and we had a fabulous time!

We entered him in the 5K race as number 0. <3

 Getting ready for the race at the hottest part of the day!

 Ready, set-

 GO!

The crowd waiting and watching for their return.

And here comes Tyler!

2nd place

 And 3rd!

After that there was lunch, games, and dessert judging.

At the sign up table we recruited three judges, and they highly enjoyed taste testing and scoring the tables of baked goods that families brought.

These were delicious!

 Yay! We have a winner! 

Talking, talking, and talking. : )

Foosball!

 A crowd of kids gathered around the table as tournament after tournament was played and shrieks of excitement could be heard when the games got fierce.



Badminton!


Wow! What's the weight limit?! Uh, oh!


Girls' turn!

Waiting in line for the trampoline.

Children's story time.

Making ice cream at the craft table.

Then hayrides around the neighborhood!


...complete with songs! This little man kept it up the whole way!

Apparently the wagon was too crowded 'cause these boys decided to climb into the truck bed and ride there. And show off how they could stretch their legs. : )

Neat shadows!

Betsy won first place in the Chili Cook Off and was awarded the "Best Chili" trophy! 

After a fellowship dinner of the many delicious chilis entered in the cook off there was a rowdy game of Badminton in which there were numerous trips up a tree to retrieve the 'birdie'.

Then to finish the day off everyone gathered around the fire pit and sang songs to the Lord.