"The wise are glad to be instructed, but babbling fools fall flat on their faces (Proverbs 10:8 NLT)."

It has been a while since I have written one of these. It has been equally long since I have read the Bible journals of others too. I can justify my absence by saying that I have been stressed and tired from life, but at the end of the day there is probably plenty of counsel and knowledge that I've been passing up on. When I do commit to Bible journaling, I not only gain from the words of Scripture and from the words of those whose reflections I read, but I also have moments where God speaks to me through the writing process, and I gain insight that I wouldn't have found from anywhere else. So I am making a vow to write journals at least once a week, ideally more frequently. And I am going to also spend more time reading the journals of others to keep learning as I get myself back into the writing habit.

Thank You Lord for always being here and ready, even when I get distant. Thank You for the timeless wisdom and guidance that You always have ready for me. Please help me to take advantage of this opportunity You are offering, and help me to be disciplined to read, write, and learn from You, along with those You are calling to teach Your Word through their writings. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

I've been struggling with work/life/hobby balance, which has affected how much I have been writing lately (basically, not much). I really want to do better. So in an effort to get back into writing again (which should also help me balance other areas of life), I am going to set a couple of small goals for next week and put them on here, so if anyone in the world of Prose wants to hold me accountable, you are welcome to. Please do this, it would be greatly appreciated :-)

Next week's goals:

1. Continue gratitude journals. I have at least been consistent with this as far as writing, and I definitely want to keep it going.

2. Write at least one Bible Journal.

3. Get at least one new chapter written for the new arc of "New Adventurers: Enter The Pirate & Crew!" (https://theprose.com/book/3137/new-adventurers-enter-the-pirate-crew)

4. Set up an outline for the Small Town Magic Arc for "New Adventurers: Enter The Pirate & Crew!" This will include links to the chapters, a synopsis of the plot, and short character bios.

So now that this is all on the interwebz, I need to accomplish these goals next week. Once again, feel free to call me out if needed. And thanks!

A Church I follow has an app (Crossroads Anywhere) where we journal together as a community, and one of the things we journal about are things we are thankful for. I wrote these for this week's prompts from the app....

6/19/2023

"What are you looking forward to this week?"

- Seeing Across The Spider-Verse again with my family.

- Another chance to work on getting my life balanced again.

- Making an effort to get more excited about God, and spending more time with Him.

6/20/2023

"What are you grateful for today?"

- Starting to feel better from the stomach bug I started the week with.

- Good vibes from sports teams that I follow.

- Opportunities for creativity.

6/22/2023

"How did someone help you this week?"

- Broadcasters bringing their passion and play by play action to me over the airwaves for my favorite teams.

- Various podcasters helping me with spiritual growth, along with entertainment (Crossroads podcasts included).

- My brother and sister-in-law for planning a bookstore adventure later this week.

6/23/2023

Affirmation: "God listens to me."

"Is there anything you would like to thank God for this week?"

Thank You God for helping me to feel better from my early illness this week, for helping me through the rest of the work week, and for some Final Fantasy XVI, a bookstore trip, and family time to look forward to.

A Church I follow has an app (Crossroads Anywhere) where we journal together as a community, and one of the things we journal about are things we are thankful for. I wrote these for this week's prompts from the app....

6/12/2023

"What are you looking forward to this week?"

- Working on getting back into better life balances, and implementing more reading and writing back into my life.

- Riding off of good vibes from family fun that we had at an anime/animation convention this past weekend.

- Hobbies to enjoy, including anime, sports, gaming, reading, and podcasts.

- My perpetual goal of growing my relationship with God.

6/13/2023

"What are you grateful for today?"

I am grateful for a fun night last night of anime, pizza, and fellowship with family. I am also thankful that one of the baseball teams I follow won, and for the chance to play the awesome new Final Fantasy XVI demo.

6/15/2023

"How did someone help you this week?"

My leadership team and another teacher put together some awesome Father's Day gifts for my students.

6/16/2023

Affirmation: "I trust God."

"Is there anything you would like to thank God for this week?"

Thank You God for helping me through the latest challenges of this week. Thank You for a few days off, and for another Father's Day to celebrate this coming Sunday.

A Church I follow has an app (Crossroads Anywhere) where we journal together as a community, and one of the things we journal about are things we are thankful for. I wrote these for this week's prompts from the app....

6/5/2023

"What are you looking forward to this week?"

- Setting some goals for this week and scheduling time to get them done (inspired by Brian Tome's Palm Sunday message).

- An anime convention with my family this week.

- Making an effort to do something fun each day, even if only for a few minutes (also inspired by Brian Tome).

6/6/2023

"What are you grateful for today?"

- An upcoming out of the blue date plan with my wife to see a stand up comedian.

- Being challenged, which is hard to be thankful for, but I will be thankful when I grow from it.

- A soccer game to check out on the radio after work.

6/8/2023

"How did someone help you this week?"

- God's constant presence, especially when I get overwhelmed, frustrated, and exhausted.

- My wife finding a potential dentist.

- Entertainment from baseball teams I follow, their broadcasters, as well as various podcasters.

6/9/2023

Affirmation: "God had me in mind before I was born."

"Is there anything you would like to thank God for this week?"

Thank You God for being with me through a challenging work week, thank You for some family fun on tap for the weekend, and thank You for the opportunities You give me to grow through facing challenges.

Still groggy, I emerged from what was apparently a live burial in hay. I looked around and found myself surrounded by horses in some kind of barn. It didn't make sense why I was here. I had always been a city girl, I never had any interest in a country life. I had even been accepted into a prestigious big city college to cement my interest in urban jungles.

I felt a small sense of relief that I wasn't amnesiac enough to forget my love for the city life. I mentally continued going over other details about myself in order to confirm what else I could remember.

My name is Ashla Salma. I am turning 18 next month. I will be studying business at that college I mentioned earlier upon my high school graduation in three months. I never knew my mother, but my father has raised me, encouraging my dreams to one day start my own corporation. He also taught me how to hunt, which is one of my favorite hobbies, the one thing I do enjoy about the country. I have had multiple invites to my senior ball, and I am still trying to figure out which one to accept. Oh, now I think I am remembering how I got here....

My dad eloped a few days ago, and I just met my new "mother" shortly after the fact. She is in her 30s, about 10 years younger than my father. Her name is Kari, and despite her ditsy, friendly personality, I felt like there was something off about her. This was confirmed when she drove up to me while I was walking home from school, offering me a ride. I declined it politely, preferring to enjoy the weather and exercise from a quiet suburban walk. She then got out of the car and punched me in the stomach, leaving me breathless. She threw me into the backseat, and I saw my father approaching the vehicle from a distance before a blindfold went over my eyes. I had no way of warning him due to the breath being knocked out of me, and something being injected into my arm stole what was left of my remaining consciousness.

So here I am, in this smelly barn, likely far way from the life I want to partake in. Despite feeling weak, I mustered as much resolve as possible so I can find out where I am, rescue my father if I'm not too late, and give my evil stepmother the boot. My senses were getting stronger, and I could now hear arguing outside. The voices belonged to my father and Kari.

"You won't take her away from me Kari! She's my child, and mine alone!"

"Liar! I am taking her away from you, monster!"

I emerged from the barn and found my father pointing a gun at Kari. Kari's only defense was a black dress that seemed to be all that she ever wore. I felt some relief knowing that my dad was OK, but it wouldn't be over until this vile woman was out of the picture.

"Dad! Are you alright?" I shrieked.

"Of course honey. I'm so sorry I couldn't get back to you sooner. But don't worry, I won't let anyone take you from me ever again."

"Ashla, your father isn't who you think he is!" Kari cried out. "I did what I did to hide you until I could stop his scheme against you!"

"Scheme, what are you talking about?" I asked heatedly. "That's rich coming from someone that punched me in the chest, threw me in her car, then blindfolded and drugged me! So how could my father, whom I have known my whole life, possibly be the one out to get me?"

"Because that's the problem, you haven't known him your whole life Ashla." Kari replied sympathetically. "Your father is a creature that craves the taste of humans. He stole you from your real family when you were too young to remember, and raised you until you were old enough to devour as well. Whether you choose to trust me or not, you have to get out of here!"

My father laughed at Kari's plea before turning back to me.

"C'mon kiddo, you can't possibly believe this ridiculous story! If I was really a sinister people eating monster, why would this woman marry me?"

"It was how I could get close enough to put an end to your plot." Kari explained. "And besides, by us being married I could get the legal responsibility to watch out for Ashla once you are out of the picture."

"Not going to happen you nasty homewrecker, I won't let you damage my family any longer." My father said before handing me the gun. "Go ahead baby, this should be your kill since this woman kidnapped you and made you go to the country without the option to hunt. Well now you can hunt. Stop this vixen from terrorizing any other innocent families in the future."

"Ok." I stammered, pointing the gun at Kari. "Leave us alone, or I'll shoot! But if you leave now and vow to never return, I'll let you go."

"No honey, you have to shoot the evil lady!" My dad protested. "She will just come after us again!"

"Your fake father is right Ashla." Kari smirked. "I'm not going to back down, so you're going to have to pull that trigger if you want to get rid of me."

I had shot plenty of animals in my hunts, but never another person. Still, this one had kidnapped me, and her delusions would remain a threat to my father and I. Feeling cornered, I pulled the trigger.

The bullet hit Kari's chest, then it fell to the ground. My father and I stared at her in disbelief as she gave us a triumphant smile.

"Have either of you ever heard of Hugh's Hero Network?" Kari asked us.

"You mean the organization led by the alien that looks like a human, and his heroes that wear dark helmets that give them access to body armor and weapons that can appear by thought? Also, do they send threats to a place called the Reflection Dimension, where those threats have the opportunity to reform and become productive members of society?"

"Very good, you are well informed." Kari told me. "The way you phrased that leads me to believe that this is what you were taught in school."

"Maybe I was." I said with resolve, while also fearful of what this apparently bulletproof woman was going to do next. I also wondered why she was even bringing up Hugh and his famous network to begin with. Was she a member?

"I see the gears turning in your head, so I will answer your unspoken question. I am not a member of Hugh's network. I am actually opposed to them. But we'll get to that later. The reason your gun didn't hurt me was because a warlock gave my body the same abilities that one of Hugh's helmets provides to one of his flunkies. So my skin is as strong as their body armor, and bullets won't break me. I also can store weapons within myself as if I was wearing one of the helmets, which I can summon by thought anytime. Here, I will show you."

A gun appeared in Kari's right hand. A laser shot out of the gun and blasted through my father's chest. Before he fell dead to the ground, his body transformed into the form of a fanged humanoid coyote.

"Father? Daddy?" I asked in shock, as tears streamed down my face. Kari walked over and embraced me, and I sobbed uncontrollably in her arms.

"I'm sorry child, that monster was never your father." Kari said tenderly as I continued crying. Once I finished letting out some of my sorrow, Kari continued to speak to me.

"That beast took on my husband's appearance.... my real husband. That is how I knew he was a fraud. We were able to uncover his real nature, and learned that he has been stealing children from their families after snacking on them, then posing as their parent and eating them once they grew up. This cycle has gone on for years, but today my dear, we put an end to it."

"We?" I asked. "You said you were against Hugh's organization? Who are you with?"

"A group that will put them out of business, permanently. My name really is Kari, but I also go by the name Anti-Hero, because I stand against the fraudulent heroes from Hugh's network. Because of them, my sweet husband is trapped in the Reflection Dimension. They aren't really protecting anyone. After all, have you seen anyone from their network here to help us tonight? We are going to eliminate them, then we will act as heroes that truly save others, including good kids just like you Ashla."

It was true, I had learned much about Hugh and his hero network in school. Yet I had never once seen anyone from his worldwide network, even though I lived near a big city. I had been groomed into becoming a meal by a beast that was pretending to be my dad. And the one that rescued me was Anti-Hero, not a member of Hugh's network. Worse of all, this monster had done this to multiple families, and Hugh and his team never did a thing to help any of them. I didn't know all of Kari's story, or even much of anything about this group that she belonged to. But her actions tonight made me a believer. I wanted in.

"Kari... Anti-Hero.... mom? Will you take me with you? I want to help you all destroy Hugh and his fake heroes. Teach me, and I'll help you all get it done!"

"Yes my child. Welcome.... to your true family."

A Church I follow has an app (Crossroads Anywhere) where we journal together as a community, and one of the things we journal about are things we are thankful for. I wrote these for this week's prompts from the app....

5/29/2023

"What are you looking forward to this week?"

- A shorter work week.

- The chance to work on some backlogs, and enjoy the content from them (books, games, spiritual resources, podcasts).

- Time with my family.

- Working on better rhythms as far as time for God, including prayer, devotional and Bible reading, taking in teachings from those God sent, journal writing, etc.

5/30/2023

"What are you grateful for today?"

I am grateful for a productive day yesterday, the new Spider-Man movie to look forward to with my family later this week, and a new opportunity to work on work and life rhythms.

6/1/2023

"How did someone help you this week?"

A couple of my students and their families were very generous and kind on their last days in my classroom, and their generosity and enthusiasm lifted my spirits. I am thankful that they were a part of this school year.

6/2/2023

Affirmation: "I trust God."

"Is there anything you would like to thank God for this week?"

Thank You God for being there through the stressful moments of the week, for the treat that the new Spider-Man movie was in the theater, and for more time with my family over the weekend.

A Church I follow has an app (Crossroads Anywhere) where we journal together as a community, and one of the things we journal about are things we are thankful for. I wrote these for this week's prompts from the app....

5/22/2023

"What are you looking forward to this week?"

- First school week after our students had a successful graduation, and transitioning into our Summer program.

- One more week to celebrate the Easter season.

- A longer weekend to look forward to.

- New opportunities to strengthen my bond with God.

- It is the last week of school for my own kids.

5/23/2023

"What are you grateful for today?"

- Starting and enjoying my online voice acting class last night.

- A callback to audition for my seasonal acting job in the Fall.

- Finding more podcast resources for connecting with God, and guided prayer time this morning.

- A little extra time with my family this morning.

- Coffee :-)

5/25/2023

"How did someone help you this week?"

- God has not only provided new resources for me to connect with Him, but has remained ever present, including moments where I needed to be humbled.

- My favorite baseball teams for entertaining me.

5/26/2023

Affirmation: "God has great plans for my life."

"Is there anything you would like to thank God for this week?"

Thank You Lord for getting me through the stress of another week, thank You for helping my children finish their school years well, thank You for some downtime with family and hobbies over the next few days, and thank You for blessing my life and continuing to show me how to connect with You.

A Church I follow has an app (Crossroads Anywhere) where we journal together as a community, and one of the things we journal about are things we are thankful for. I wrote these for this week's prompts from the app....

5/15/2023

"What are you looking forward to this week?"

- My students' graduation.

- Family time with my parents, including a baseball game.

- Some relief at work after some end of the year school activities are completed.

5/16/2023

"What are you grateful for today?"

I am grateful for God's presence through a crazy work day yesterday, for things to be coming together for the graduation of my students, for the opportunity to write yesterday, and for the sleep I am about to enjoy before the next workday begins (it is 12:09 AM).

5/18/2023

"How did someone help you this week?"

Receiving treats and notes of appreciation from students and leadership post Teacher Appreciation Week boosted my spirits.

5/19/2023

Affirmation: "I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me."

"Is there anything you would like to thank God for this week?"

Thank You God for a successful graduation with my students, for helping me get everything else at work done, for some upcoming fun with my parents this weekend, and for lots of baseball to enjoy.

"Mitch, how much further to Aplonica?"

"The GPS says another 4 hours Rick." Mitch replied as he drove the rental car. Rick sat beside Essie in the back, while Cerissa was up front.

"We'll save the townspeople there, and maybe learn about Glicko as well." Cerissa smiled hopefully.

"Yeah." Essie added with a sweet smile of her own, which made Rick blush just like it always did. "We will be one step closer to getting Rick's parents home safely, Cerissa and my memories back, and Petunia cured as well."

"All thanks to the best crew I could hope for!" Mitch said enthusiastically. "I've got all of your backs, always."

Essie smiled and laid her head on Rick's shoulder, peacefully falling asleep. Rick grinned ear to ear before clonking out as well.

"That was quick." Cerissa giggled at the sounds of their snoring comrades. "Although it's good that we squeezed in some more practice in the Training World before we set off. We don't want a real world loss like we experienced in our mock battle with Tate and Wasila."

"Agreed." Mitch said warmly. "That fusion spell in your book was worth learning through our mutual training session, and it'll no doubt make for a good tactic. Rick told me that he and Essie also learned something worthwhile when they practiced together in their own simulation."

"Essie told me that too, and I don't think she minded some one on one time with Rick." Cerissa smiled.

"They're good for each other, and their bond will make them a force to be reckoned with as well. The same can be said for us, although our dynamic is not quite the same." Mitch chuckled.

"True." Cerissa laughed once again. "I may not remember my past yet, including my family. But having a father figure like you eases that burden Mitch, and that connection between us will remain even after I regain my memories from Glicko."

"Yes, having never had children of my own, I am grateful to be able to call you a daughter, Cerissa."

A call then came through on Mitch's phone. It was none other than their new client, Tamma Aplonica.

To be continued....