9 December 1985

"The Cost of Being a Christian"

Times when it costs a price to be a Christian	A reason for being different...
When everybody is: 1. fighting 2. acting like they're better 3. ignoring parents 4. smoking, drinking, etc	A Christian believes that: -you should turn the other cheek -a people are created equal; we should be humble -we should honor our father and mother -we were given our bodies to take care of

What's Happening in the World End-of-year films: The Jewel of the Nile, The Color Purple, Out of Africa End-of-year US events: Christian Identity adherent murders family of 4 mistaken for Jews; John Gotti has Mafia rivals killed, takes over as head of Gambino crime family End-of-year world events: Palestinian terrorists kill 18 in Vienna and Rome airports; Arrow Air Flight 1285 crashes in Canada killing all on board, including 248 U.S. servicemen End-of-year celebrity events: Births of American actresses Raven Symone and Beth Behrs; start of Jerry Rice's NFL streak of 100+ consecutive game receptions

9 September 1985

“Turning Points”

The turning point in my cousins’ lives is when their sister died in a truck accident. The difference it made is that now they are a lot nicer and prepared.

A turning point in Miss Meyer’s life is when she took this job as principal. The difference it made is that she knows what it’s like in a small, christian school and she knows a lot of kids.

One turning point is when my dad got sick. The difference it made is I did a lot of praying and learned a lot about what God wants and expects.

Another turning point is when my sister Susie was born. The difference is that I was finally old enough to remember when she was born in future years and I was old enough to help take care of her.

A third turning point in my life is around when I turned 13. I started maturing and didn’t act like a baby anymore (or a little kid).

What's Happening in the World On the radio: St. Elmo's Fire (John Parr), Cherish (Kool & The Gang) Reagan endorses sanctions against South African apartheid Failed coup attempt in Thailand kills 2 NBC News journalists First artificial heart to donor heart transition; kids with AIDS banned from school

4 September 1985

“Prioritizing My Values”

The following things are all things which I value greatly in life: Mom, sisters, brothers, God, puppies, friends, Grandma, Father Jim, dreams, the promise of eternity in Heaven, cousins, privacy, freedom.

My prioritized list of 10 values is (in order):
1. God
2. the promise of eternity in Heaven
3. Mom
4. sisters
5. brothers
6. cousins
7. friends
8. Grandma
9. dreams
10. puppies

Why do I value the things listed so much? I value the things I have listed so much because everyday or night they are in my thoughts.

I value God most because He has done more for me than most people could imagine. My dad’s death has brought us extremely close. The promise of eternity in Heaven was given to my mom for our whole family by Jesus (which makes it important) through the gift of tongues (hard to believe, but true).

My sisters & brothers are important because I’ve lived and grown with them my whole life. My friends are important because they care about me and they’re people my own age I can talk to. My cousins have more value to me than my friends I decided because they are the ones that really care deeply about me and are never afraid to comfort me or give me a hug.

My grandma is important because I feel a part of me belongs to her and she understands more than people would think she would.

My dreams are like wonderful movies I see on T.V., except they’re free and don’t take up any valuable time. Stories have always fascinated me and the best thing about these stories are that I’m in them.

Last of all the puppies are important to me because I have had two dogs which I loved dearly get killed (which brought me closer already) and because puppies are my favorite types of pets. These puppies I have known since they were very little and mothered them right away since they came. Now they follow me like a parent.

What's Happening in the World On the radio: Money For Nothing (Dire Straits), Power Of Love (Huey Lewis & The News) House Intelligence Committee announces it will investigate Oliver North's involvement with Nicaraguan Contras, hearings cancelled and Iran-Contra affair continues unchecked for over a year Titanic shipwreck is found; stereo sound comes to broadcast TV

30 August 1985

“Personal Evaluation”

The best thing that happened to me over the summer is hard to tell since a lot of things good happened to me. Probably the best thing is that I got to spend the best summer ever with my dad before he died. We went to South Dakota and saw the Corn Palace, we saw this modern-made pioneer village that included everything from a barber shop and bank to a graveyard and school (but none of our cameras worked that day), and I came very close to God that summer also.

The things I am most looking forward to as an 8th grader are the school amusement park trip, the graduation, being the 3rd oldest student in the whole school, being there for the little kids who need an older friend (especially my little sister Susie), and, most of all, having the best last year in elementary school.

The most important things that I have to offer to our class so that this year goes well for everyone are probably my friendship, being there when someone feels alone, setting an example, and helping out in sports and sales (like bake sales).

The one thing I have to work on is being more open, expressing my opinion, and being a good leader, not a follower of everyone else.

What the slogan "lift your wings: soar to success" means is that everyone should really try – put some effort into it – and they can be anything they want. How I plan to live up to it is trying real hard in Student Council, working on my work so it gets finished, and being more open and expressing.

What's Happening in the World Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine relief; in theaters: Back to the Future, The Goonies, Teen Wolf Islamic terrorist bombing in Madrid kills 18; Sikh terrorist bombing of Air India flight kills 329 South Africa ends interracial marriage ban; Kuwait grants women right to vote; Aspen, Colorado implements first US ban on smoking in restaurants New Coke introduced, Fidel Castro calls it “a sign of American capitalist decadence," old Coke returns to shelves as Coke Classic

Summer 1985

I have learned how to play basketball better by shooting baskets in our driveway a lot. I know how to by softball now because before I didn’t know. I have accomplished getting a lot of friends and convincing my mom to get my hair cut. I have accomplished getting a regular babysitting job.

My dad had minor surgery yesterday. He’ll get the results Tuesday.

~ 8 April 1985

We didn’t go to Iowa after all because my father wasn’t feeling good enough.

I just got done writing a book I started last April. It’s called Harriet M. Welsch and it has 25 pages with no pictures. I might type it later.

What's Happening in the World On the radio: One More Night (Phil Collins), Crazy For You and Material Girl (Madonna); on TV: Three's a Crowd ends and Mr. Belvedere debuts Soviet fear leads Reagan Administration to restrict exchange of unclassified scientific information, DOD screens papers and attendees for engineer meeting Sudanese President Nimeiry ousted in bloodless coup; India files lawsuit against Union Carbide over Bhopal gas tragedy, world's worst industrial disaster Wham! holds historic concert in China, a first for a Western pop group

Tuesday, 2 April 1985, 9:28 AM

This week is my brother’s birthday. Jack, my brother, turns 22. We found a dog about 2 weeks ago. I found out 2 days ago that he’s a 100% pure breed Alaskan husky; worth about $375.00. Jack’s going to sell him because where he’s moving to they don’t allow pets. This easter we are going to Iowa to visit my aunt & uncle and their 2 kids because last month, it was exactly a year since their daughter, my cousin, about my age, got hit by a semi and died while riding with her brother.

My dad’s doctor said that he has about 1 ½ years to live, but we shouldn’t worry that much because when he was in the hospital in October one docter said he’d never make it out alive and another said he only had 2 weeks. He’s still alive and out of the hospital.

About a week ago we had a grass fire and burned practically half our back yard and we have a Big back yard!

Last month my brother Jarrett moved to The City and the month before, my sister got married. So, lately our family have been very active. We’re also planning, for summer vacation, a trip around the U.S. in a camper. Around last christmas, we also went 600 miles from here to visit my dad’s relatives. We’re planning on living here in Springfield, in the U.S., in North America, on the earth, in the universe, all our lives. The End.

P.S. My 5-year-old sister is a triplet, but after they were born, her 2 brothers, Sam and Steve, died. We’re going to tell her this summer, Susie that is, all about it.

What's Happening in the World We Are The World tops charts, followed by Can't Fight This Feeling (REO Speedwagon); The Breakfast Club is in theaters; on TV The Dukes of Hazzard ends and Moonlighting debuts Gorbachev is now Soviet leader; Reagan Administration pushes need for "Star Wars" space defense program in light of Russian laser weapon research FDA approves first blood test for AIDS, screening of blood donations begins Computer company registers first dot-com website domain (symbolics.com)

5th Grade Story

My Surprise Birthday Present

Our family used to always seem poor; until a year ago.

My hobby is sending in contests. So, as usual, when I saw this sweepstakes in Monkey Magazine, I sent it in. First I had a deal to make with my parents. They got what ever I won if they bought ‘Sweetso’ cereal for a proof of purchase seal.

For the rest of the month it was boring. I got up, ate cereal, went to school, did school work, came home, did homework, ate supper, and went to bed. The same thing happened all the time except one day I missed the bus.

Then one day when I came home from school, I found my dad with tears in his eyes and a big and weird smile on his face, holding my fainted mother. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he went cuckoo and surprised my mother so bad, she fainted.

A half an hour later, I was writing a letter to the funny farm about my parents, when my dad came in my room. I quickly grabbed my letter and put it in my dresser drawer. By the way his eyes and smile looked when I came home, I was wondering if he was contageous.

“Jolie, look at this. We won one million dollars! Can you beleive that?!” said my dad.

It’s a week later and it’s almost my birthday. I haven’t fully recoverd from when my dad first told me about everything.

It’s the next day on my birthday. I went down stairs to go to the bathroom. When I went in the T.V. room to say good morning I didn’t like what I saw. There was a bunch of fancy-looking kids staring at me in my new nightgown and robe.

I just about left when I saw it. It was a robot. I went over to it and it started singing ‘Happy Birthday’. When it was done, it handed me a manuel on how to fix him if he gets busted.

Since I didn’t know if it was a girl or a boy, I called it Herman. For the rest of the year we played Super Pac-Man and other games until the day he blew a fuse. Poor Herman. Maybe someday I’ll be able to find another fuse. Who knows?

23 September 1982

The Day I got Chewed Up

Do you know how boring it is just sitting in a store, on a shelf, all wrapped up? Very boring. I think I’ll go talk to Tammy Bubble Yum.

“Hey, Tammy! It’s me, Jolie Hubba Bubba,” I said.

“Oh, hi. Did you hear what happened to Jimmy Freedent?” she said, “He got took away by some big thing. It was awful. It took off his wrappers and put him in a dark cave. Then these big white things started squishing him.”

“Well, I gotta go home and eat, so watch out for those big white things,” I said. I was walking home when this great big thing grabbed me and traded me to this other thing for a big silver thing. That thing put me in a dark cave. I wish I ran home instead of walking. Yuck! It’s wet in here. Now, the white things are coming. Squish!

“Help! Somebody! Please help! I wish I was home.” Squish!

“Can somebody please help?” Squish! I give up. Nobody can hear me in this place. Hey, there’s a tunnel! That’s too scary and wet to go down.

Now, the red rug’s moving! Hey! It’s pushing me out! I’m gonna fall and die! Plop! “Ouch!” Where is everybody? Are they alright? Those things are stepping on me. Here comes a big machine. Squish!

Now, I’m stuck on the tire. This is awful! Hey! This is kinda fun! It’s like a ferris wheel. What strange things! Oh, no! Now I fell off! Hey, there’s my home! Yay! Now only if somebody opens the door. That big thing is opening the door! I’d better hurry in. Hey, there’s Tammy and my mom and dad!

“Hi, Tammy!”

“Jolie, you’re still alive!”

“Yah. Hi, mom, hi, dad!”

“Hi,” mom said, “Oh, I missed you! I thought you were a gonner.”

“So did I,” dad said, “Welcome home.”

“I can’t wait to tell you about my adventures, everybody,” I said.

What's Happening in the World Survivor's Eye of the Tiger tops charts, followed by John Cougar's Jack & Diane Ronald Reagan is in his second year as President, the country is in a recession, and train engineers are on a nationwide strike Ariel Sharon admits to Israel's role in the slaughter of Muslim refugees in Beirut at the hands of Christian militia NYC's first-ever female firefighters are sworn in