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Stanzas and lines, not to forget rhymes; without rhythm where would we be?; Or speaking in metaphor, through allegory? (1) INTRODUCTION Everything in life has its secret ingredients. Poetry is no different. By all the verses and stanzas, different forms, meter, rhythm, rhyme and so many other elements, poetry is uniquely distinguished from its sister prose. All these elements help to shape the right image in the reader’s mind, convey the message, and invoke specific emotions. THE INGREDIENTS OF POETRY When I was little there was a popular cartoon called Powerpuff Girls that I loved to watch. Even nowadays I like to imagine myself running around town fighting all the bad guys. Except I do not usually imagine myself wielding fists and weapons, not that I was that big of a fan of physical altercations even back then. Either way, the Powerpuff Girls were cool and strong. I bet it gave quite a few girls out there the empowerment to be bold and authentic in their pursuit of their dreams. The Girls were not just ordinary girls though They had supernatural powers and were created in a laboratory. The secret ingredients were sugar, spice, and everything nice. And of course a little bit of the infamous Chemical X!!! And thus the Powerpuff Girls were born. Poetry too has its secret ingredients - elements - that shape her into the beauty she's known for being. Today we will take a look at some of them. FORM Structure. Everything in life has form and structure. Poetry is no different. It does though come in a wide variety of different forms. Still, there are basic structural elements we can identify in almost all poetry: Stanza: a group of lines set off from others by a blank line or indentation. They convey a certain message or meaning. Verse: stanzas with no set number of lines that make up units based on sense. Canto: a stanza pattern found in medieval and modern long poetry. (2) METER Meter on the other hand is a syllabic pattern found in verse (2,3). It is a combination of stressed and unstressed syllables (3) and is measured in feet - units of stressed and unstressed syllables (4). The most commonly known and used meters are: Iamb: consists of one unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable Ex.: amuse (a-MUSE), delight (de-LIGHT) Trochee: a metrical foot containing one stressed syllable followed by an unstressed syllable Ex.: poet (PO-et), garden (GAR-den) Dactyl: comprised one stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables Ex.: Bicycle (BI-cy-cle), Elephant (E-le-phant), poetry (PO-e-try) Anapest: consists of three syllables, where the first two are unstressed and the last one is stressed Ex.: underfoot (un-der-FOOT), overcome (o-ver-COME) Spondee: contains two stressed syllables Ex.: childhood, heyday Pyrrhic: is the opposite of spondee and contains two unstressed syllables Ex.: green shade, go home (2) These meters can be combined to form a metrical pattern also known as a metrical scheme. Among the most known are: iambic pentameter (lines contain 5 iambs each), iambic terameter (lines contain 4 iambs each), trochaic tetrameter (recurring pattern of four trochees per line), and trochaic octameter (verse lines contain eight trochees each). (2) RHYME AND RHYME SCHEME Rhyme is the repetitive pattern of sounds found in poetry. They are used to reinforce a pattern or rhyme scheme. The common types are: a) end rhyme, b) imperfect rhyme, c) internal rhyme, d) masculine rhyme, e) feminine rhyme. (2) Rhyme schemes on the other hand show which lines rhyme with each other. They create structure and musicality and guide the reader through the poem’s rhythm and mood. To name a few: Monorhyme: AAA Couplet Rhyme: AABB Couplet Progression: AABBCC Tercet Rhyme: ABA. Enclosed Rhyme: ABBA Rubaiyat Rhyme: AABA Alternate Rhyme: ABAB. (2) SOUND AND RHYTHM The sound of a poetic text means how a line or what sounds some specific words evoke in readers’ minds. Rhythm on the other hand is a set pattern formed by these sounds (2,3). It is a beat created by stressed and unstressed syllables in words (4). SUBJECT AND THEME The theme is a recurring idea or a pervading thought in a work of literature, while the subject of the poem describes to us what the poem is about (2, 3). While the subject can be assigned only to each poem separately, themes can be applied to a collection of poems. Having a well-defined subject and theme helps with the identification of the main message or the purpose of the writing of the poem. (3) TONE AND MOOD The tone or attitude of a poem’s speaker and the mood of the entire text is an essential part of every poem. They are part of poetic diction, create the right image, and shape the reader’s feelings and the impression of the poem. (2,3) SYNTAX Syntax is the ordering of words into meaningful patterns to achieve certain artistic effects such as tone, mood, and similar. In poetry, syntax is distinct compared to prose, fiction, and other forms of literature. FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE AND POETIC DEVICES Figurative language and different poetic devices are used to introduce different interpretations of words or to evoke other ideas that are not connected with the words directly. Alliteration, assonance, consonance, and onomatopoeia are used to create musical effects. Irony, symbolism, and juxtaposition leave a poem open to several interpretations while metaphors and similes build a relationship between different images previously not perceived. (2,3) SPEAKER The speaker is the one who narrates the poem. While that may be the poet the majority of the time, the writer can choose to narrate the poem through a character. The narration is usually in th perspective of a first-person or third-person speaker. It can also be in the perspective of a second-person speaker, which allows for a more compelling way of conveying the message. (2, 3) CONCLUSION Poetry has its own secret ingredients. It is uniquely shaped and structured. It can be structured in a wide variety of different forms. Verses, stanzas, syntax, figurative language, poetic devices, and other elements shape the right image in the reader’s mind and convey the core message, or invoke emotions. SOURCES Image created via canva.com Sudip Das Gupta. 10 Important Elements of Poetry. Available at https://poemanalysis.com/poetry-explained/elements-of-poetry/ Lady of Poetry. 25 Essential Elements of Poetry. Available at https://ladyofpoetry.com/poetry/25-essential-elements-of-poetry/ Poetry (PPT presentation). Available at https://www.hasdk12.org/cms/lib/PA01001366/Centricity/Domain/687/Elements%20of%20Poetry.pdf

(1) INTRODUCTION Happy Birthday, Happy New Year, Happy Hanukkah, and Merry Christmas are just some of the many greetings adorning the numerous greeting cards that some very happy faces are opening right this minute around the world.   They have almost become an afterthought, but there is still a lot of beauty to be found in them. In their illustrated way, they convey a certain sentiment to the recipient on a special occasion.  My desire to convey and write my own verses is what at the end of the day has led me to poetry writing and writing in general. Funny how things works out in the end, right?  A LITTLE VERSE FOR YOU Roses are red, violets are blue, Joy is contagious, you catch it too.  I wonder how many variations of the above verses I have read over the years. Men are creative, no doubt about it. Especially when trying to poke some fun. Yet if you asked any of them, they would probably deny their creativity. Ironic, right? Not that I am judging. I had never considered myself a creative soul when younger either. Though I have core memories of drawing and have always loved music, I never gave anything a real go. I guess I was not able to see myself as capable enough.  Yet in the right company, I started to open myself a little bit. I got inspired to start making homemade gifts, especially for birthdays. They were considered and still are as more thoughtful. And I liked the idea of putting time into each one. In all honesty, though, those first gifts probably sucked. But they were the starting point for something new. They inspired me to pursue new things and ventures.  I found myself perusing through the crafting world and ended up picking up cardmaking. I was quite passionate about it for a couple of years.  That passion has now been mostly replaced by writing, yet still, I have not put my stamps and dies to rest. I am warming up to the idea of cardmaking again.  Either way, giving away homemade cards became my signature. I would create my card and then find some verses online I liked.  I was fine with that until a thought came to me, ‘What if I wrote it?’ A desire to write my own verses began to grow in me. At the next opportunity, I pounced on it. It was not easy though, as it is with the majority of things we try for the first time. But it was the first step in my writing journey.  GREETING CARDS  Per Merriam-Webster Dictionary a greeting card is “a decorated card with a message of good wishes that is sent or given to someone on a special occasion”. (2) It is an illustrated message that expresses a certain sentiment. (3) Usually, they are sent by mail and can be divided into two groups: seasonal and every day. Among the seasonal Christmas, New Year, Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Valentine’s Day greeting cards stand out the most. (3) Everyday cards on the other hand include those commemorating birthdays and anniversaries, and cards of condolences, congratulations, and so forth. (3) Modern-day cards, while predominantly made from scrapbook paper, can be made from a wide variety of materials: leather, vellum, wood, cork, clay, … (3) THE EARLY BEGINNINGS Such illustrated messages were not unknown to our forefathers. They date back to ancient times. In Egypt, they exchanged scented bottles and scarabs with inscriptions, while in Rome strenae were often given. (3) Wood engravers in the 15th century managed to produce the first prints that had a similar intent as the modern Christmas and New Year cards. Then there are the valentines - inscribed sentiments related to St. Valentine’s Day. The paper ones date back to the 16th century.  The greeting card industry continued to grow and truly set off in 1860. It left a big mark, especially in the USA, where their popularity has remained even to this day and age. (3) HOW TO WRITE A GREETING CARD I admit; for the most part, I had never followed any specific rules when it came to writing greeting cards. I just went with it.  Others do suggest you put some thought into it. Here are some basic tips to assist you:  Choose the right card appropriate to the occasion (4) Start with a warm greeting: Happy Birthday, Thank you, Congratulations …(4) Personalize your message: a joke, a memory …(4) Keep it simple (5) Be sincere (5) End the card with a warm goodbye: Love, Best wishes, Take care …(4) PUT PEN TO PAPER The best advice I can give you is to simply put pen to paper. That is what I did and continued doing throughout the years. Slowly my writing has been improving little by little. With it grew my expectations, appetite, and dreams.  Greeting cards were merely the door to even bigger cravings. Soon I was writing short poems with the intention of one day perhaps writing a musical. A dream that seems far-fetched? Perhaps? A worthy dream to pursue anyway.  What I am trying to say is simple. It will take some perseverance and time. Your first attempt may not seem much to others but learn to cherish every single one of them. Through your perseverance, you will water that good seed that will eventually produce a good harvest.  CONCLUSION Greeting cards are illustrated messages that convey certain sentiments. They can be divided into two groups: seasonal and everyday cards. Their origins date back to ancient practices both in Egypt and Rome. Over the years they slowly evolved into today’s modern image so dear to many hearts even to this day and age.  SOURCES Image created via canva.com . Merriam-Webster Dictionary: Greetings card. Available at https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/greetings%20card The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. Greeting card. Available at https://www.britannica.com/topic/Christmas-card English Path. A guide to writing creative and thoughtful English greeting cards. 3 May, 2024. Available at https://www.englishpath.com/blog/a-guide-to-writing-creative-and-thoughtful-english-greeting-cards/ Heide Hackworth & Rebecca Robinson. What to Write in a Greeting Card. 17 June 2024. Available at https://www.earthgreetings.com.au/blog/our-blog/what-to-write-in-a-greeting-card/?srsltid=AfmBOorXouUOD_Q2pWQ8JvZIXvBRtgAx3-GGSDJkImDDy73pzMIhtah3 Until next time!

(1) It was another sunny yet chilly day when Archie and his owners pulled up to the familiar clearing near their favorite woods. Usually, their visits consisted of hunting. This time though, they merely came for a walk and a change of scenery.  Archie loved walks, as most dogs do. Normally his walks included visiting the old town city or nearby fields. In both cases, his owners tended to keep him on a leash. But on these walks and hunts in the woods, Archie was allowed to roam freely. So when Archie saw the familiar woods his tail began to wag with excitement.  Slowly, they entered the woods together as a tandem. Today was all about enjoyment and fun so no one was in a hurry. Archie was a couple of steps ahead of his ‘humans’ with his nose stuck to the ground: our Archie, ever the investigator. So they walked for an hour or so. They were about to turn and head back when Archie got disturbed by a sudden noise. A nearby deer bolted for safety after it detected Archie’s presence. But not one to be outdone so easily, Archie soon gave chase.  Ignoring the shouts for ‘come back here boy’, as he did the last time, Archie soon ended up alienated from his owners. They weren't prepared to give chase after him as they were on their last hunt.  Archie kept on going obliviously. He was too thrilled by the chase, which lasted for 15 minutes until the deer managed to outmaneuver him.  Before Archie knew it it was gone for good.  At that moment, Archie stopped and surveyed his surroundings. He soon realized the deer was not the only thing ‘gone for good’. His owners were nowhere to be seen. Panickingly, he immediately began his search. For what seemed like decades but was only 15 minutes, Archie finally got some breakthrough. It was not what he expected though. He happened upon a familiar furry friend Stormy and his human companion.  They stood there still waiting until Stormy’s owner realized something was amiss. Archie’s distress might have contributed to this fact. Arche was lost. Luckily though, he was also soon found.  Stormy’s owner knew where he lived and so began Archie's journey home. What a coincidence, or maybe divine intervention. Having a playmate to ease the nervousness on the ride back home was pretty nice too. Before Archie could blink his eyes, he was safe and sound at home in the embrace of his relieved and happy owners. Ready he was to retire, for he had had enough adventures for the day. Until next time! SOURCES Image created via canva.com .

(1) INTRODUCTION It is that time of the year. The weather has grown cold, and snow has fallen in many places over the world. Christmas tunes have overcome the radio playlists and Christmas movies TV programs. It is time for storytelling, the time for gift wrapping and giving. But the season of celebrating would be nothing without some good homecooked meals. The winter season is a season of comforting foods and the season of cooking and baking. Even people who usually do not cook or bake tend to pick up a spatula and whisk some cream. While the majority cook and bake by memory recipes passed onto them orally, others choose to experiment by looking up new recipes they may find in a variety of cookbooks, blogs, and platforms. I like to experiment at times too. But when I wish to cook the dish again I realize I had forgotten the exact amount of measurements and the method used. In those moments many a time I wished, I had written the recipe down. But what exactly does a good recipe entail? RECIPE WRITING Recipes are the main source of inspiration for home cooks. In 2020 alone, there was a whopping 45% increase in “recipes and cooking” video views . And Samsung Food users agree that recipes are crucial. ( How to write a recipe: The complete guide-Samsung Food , 2 ) Modern-day living tends to be hectic and fast-paced. More than ever there is a need for quick and simple recipes. As stated above, just in 2020 there was a 45% rise in recipe and cooking views. Most probably due to the coronavirus, but still people have grown accustomed to searching for cooking ideas on internet. As we do regarding all other ideas. Considering how in most countries around the world eating outside is rather expensive, we can safely assume good recipes are highly sought after. Though it may appear simple at first glance, even recipe writing has its secret ingredients you must follow—if you want your recipe to be well-written or even exceptional of course. WHAT DOES A GOOD RECIPE NEED? As with any other piece of writing, there are essential elements a good recipe needs. Beside those essential elements (3) adding some of your flare and flavor is a must. KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE The first secret ingredient to great recipe writing is knowing your audience. Yes! Even in recipe writing you must know if you are writing to children learning to cook at school, adults in a cooking course, or professional cooks. The language you will use will be different. PICK A GREAT TITLE Picking a great title comes next. Choose descriptive words. Try to catch the attention of the audience with a bit of sensationalism and do not list every ingredient in the title. ADD RECIPE DESCRIPTION In short simple words, give some background to the recipe. Share something interesting, like a cooking tip, interesting fact, or story revolving around that specific recipe. LIST THE PREPARATION AND COOKING TIME Preparation and cooking time are an essential element of every recipe. They clue us in as to how much time preparing this dish will take. An invaluable piece of information to many, especially when short on time. While total preparation time tells us how long the whole process will take active cooking time speaks of the time needed to prepare the recipe, without the for instance baking time. Whether you include preparation and cooking times is up to you. If you do include them, make sure you have tested them yourself multiple times. LIST YOUR SERVING SIZE AND NUMBER OF SERVINGS After preparing the dish, choose the serving size and measure the amount of servings. LIST INGREDIENTS List ingredients in chronological order for easier and more organized use. Be specific in amounts and measurements. Opt for the full name of the measurements instead of their abbreviations. List the state of the ingredients and the size of cans, packages, and complete names. LIST UNIQUE UTENSILS Mention any unique utensils that will be required in the cooking/baking process. METHOD OF PREPARATION Once we have listed the needed utensils, we can begin the process of describing the preparation and cooking steps. Steps should be listed in order, numbered, and kept short, and to the point. BE SPECIFIC We need to be specific regarding the size of the cookware and regarding doneness. People may not know what 'well done' might look like. They might not have the same-sized cookware or cups. That is why we need to be specific. TEST THE RECIPE The recipe should be tested before it sees daylight. Some say 2 times is enough, others suggest 4 times at least should be considered. INCLUDE STORAGE SUGGESTIONS Many times our eyes are too big and we are left with many leftovers. It is advisable to include instructions as to how to store them. OFFER EXTRA INFORMATION Share with the readers any additional information and tips that are related to this specific dish. INCLUDE NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION It is also advisable to add a nutritional analysis. That way people will know what they will be ingesting and their amounts. QUALITY PHOTOGRAPHY Lastly, we are to add quality photography which should include the whole process. So photos of the preparation stage, the cooking stage, and the finished product. All needs to be well documented. CONCLUSION Recipe writing as any other style of writing has a certain set of rules and suggestions we should follow. Among them a descriptive, eye-catching title, recipe description, chronological ingredient list, method preparation, and additional information such as nutritional information and storage suggestions. We must be specific when listing ingredients, amounts, and measurements. That is key. SOURCES Image created via canva.com . Samsung Food. How to Write a Recipe: The Complete Guide. Available at https://samsungfood.com/blog/how-to-write-a-recipe/ Sharon Palmer. The Best Recipe Writing Strategies. March 14, 2023. Available at https://sharonpalmer.com/rules-for-good-recipe-writing/ Until next time!

Archie is known to be quite courageous. He is a shepherd dog after all. A few times that bravery was shown when some foxes were stirring up the pot. But not on Archie’s watch. He is calm, collected, and quick. Not even one sheep has ever been hurt or lost. Splendid is his record. So it came as a surprise when this afternoon his calmness was nowhere to be seen.  It was one of those days - yes my fellow furry friends, you guessed it. It was visiting the vet day. A day no furry friend ever quite looks up to. And it happened to be a shot day too. While Archie never fused much after a shot, he still was not a fan of them either. Today apparently though he was quite agitated.   He was fusing throughout the car ride back home. Finally parking their car, Archie’s owners finally thought things would be better. They were in for a rude surprise, just as Archie was.  Bolting towards the backyard, which was Arcie’s little domain during winter, he came face to face with an intruder. Or so he thought. There in the middle of his backyard stood a mighty snowman. An unwelcome one, per Archie’s opinion. And he made his objection loudly clear.  An onslaught of barks was the only greeting this snowman was to receive from Archie. So severe the onslaught was, that Archie’s owners thought there truly was a crisis to deal with.  Quickly they bolted towards the backyard wondering what the situation might be while their concern grew. The distress they were feeling fueled Archie’s distress which ultimately led to the comical situation that became a favorite Christmas dinner story for years to come.  Just as they were reaching the door handle, Archie on the other end decided to take matters into his own hands. Launching in for an attack, Archie thinking he would body slam the intruder to the floor, ended up with his face fully submerged in snow instead. While the morning that day was quite cold, the afternoon happened to be extremely warm for winter.  The snowman ended up being quite soft to the touch, and no match for the strong Archie. The sight did end up being quite comical when Archie turned his head towards his owners at their summing.  Snow upon his nose, brows, and whiskers was the telltale of his destructive ways. That, and the big large indent in the poor snowman. There went all the hard work. 'Serves him right', thought our little Archie, not feeling even a bit guilty. This is his backyard, his domain after all. And he shall guard it with his life. And guard it he shall well. Until next time!

It was that time of the year. The weather had progressively become colder and settled around -5 degrees for the past three weeks. The wind was downright frosty yet oddly warming when the familiar scent of gingerbread cookies and hot chocolate wafted by. Not to mention the all-too-familiar sound of Christmas carols softly accompanying all the bustling and hustling people during their shopping sprees. Around 3 kilometers or so away our favorite canine friend Archie was on his assignment. Yesterday evening the Hevaens above graced the land with a fresh coat of snow. Usually, Archie would remain inside in the warmth of his home, but today they were homing some visitors. Among them were two little rascals Nathan and Lila. Archie loved their company, especially during their playtime.  Speaking of the latter, Archie was assigned to guard these two rascals for the afternoon. Well, to be more precise, he was assigned to be their sleigh man. Rather their Rudolf the reindeer. They even brought a red nose and a pair of antlers for him. He was dressed for the part and honestly enjoyed it too.  His feet were crushing the soft snow as he bulldozed through the backyard of his home beelining it for the surrounding woods. The destination? The nearby Roowie Lake.  “Faster, Rudolf!!” two high-pitched voices were shouting. Speeding up the pace, Archie realized his mistake a little too late as he did not manage to stop himself at the edge of the lake.  From the more familiar snowy terrain, Archie and his two proteges took their sleighing pastime onto a more icy field. Though unplanned, the initial panic turned to joy when all realized the ice was thick enough to withhold.  Navigating proved too difficult for Archie with the ice being too slippery. Deciding to head back, they were off the ice not too soon, when a magnificent reindeer appeared on the other side of the lake.  A breathtaking picture it presented. Its antlers were a sight to see, magnificent it was in its glory. Its attitude left for some desire though. It appeared aggravated for some reason. Luckily a whole lake separated them from the reindeer. They decided even more distance would not do them harm.  Taking one more glance at a real ‘Rudolf’, Archie and his two companions headed back home. Their elation started to dim the closer they got home, but never quite left them. After all, when will they encounter another ‘Rudolf’ again? Until next time!

(1) Today was a bit of a special day. During winter Archie usually stayed at home. The sheep were well protected and taken care of inside their pen and they stopped with their hunts at the end of October. In November after all it did tend to snow for the first time. Archie’s winters tended to be rather boring.  So he was very excited when he heard the deep bass voice of his uncle. Soon after followed his owner’s voice. “Archie! Come here, boy!” Archie, though surprised, did not need another invitation. He quickly got up and beelined towards his owner and uncle. His excitement grew when he heard the familiar word ‘hunt’. They were going for a hunt. One of Archie’s favorite pastimes.  Quickly Archie was prepared by his owner and off they went. This time toward the north. About 30 minutes the car ride took until they stopped at a familiar stop. Here they were. From the same spot as usual they entered the woods, Archie leading the gang.  His nose was already down to the ground trying to catch a sniff of some wild game. Rabbits tended to be their catch. Well trained Arhie’s nose was already yet it detected nothing familiar for the first 30 minutes. A bit unusual.  Right when they were about to take a right turn, Archie sensed something. He caught the whiff of a wounded rabbit and oddly enough another dog. Taking a wild left turn Archie took off into the nearby bush. His two companions shouted after him in following. Archie was on a mission though and did not allow himself to be disturbed.  Soon after he burst into a clearing where his target was sitting peacefully. A white pristine-looking husky was sitting next to his owner. Upon Archie bursting into the clearing the husky stood up in protest. “Frosty! Down boy!” his owner shouted.  Frosty was the husky's name. After they calmed down, they stood there staring at each other until Archie slowly approached for a sniff. What looked like a confrontation and a fight ready to burst out over the dead rabbit, turned into a friendly wrestling match between the canines. A new friend Archie managed to make. The rabbit and hunt were long forgotten as the owners and their furry friends chatted and played for about an hour until daylight began to wane.  It was hard for Archie to say goodbye. This new friend he would greatly miss. But what he did not know was that this encounter would not be the last. His budding friendship would eventually strike up a human one too. But that is a story for another day. Until next time!

(1) INTRODUCTI ON On the bloody and sometimes cold frontlines in World War 1 and 2, among the most anticipated things happened to be the mail day. Each one of the weary soldiers was dying to hear good news from their loved ones. Words that kept them going and empowered them to keep hoping for a better tomorrow.  With beaten and battered hands they held up their letters, as they mustered up the strength to read what was written. In many an eye tears were seen welling up. The words of love were the fuel that these men needed. The words that reminded them of what they were fighting for. Letters have played a major role in the lives of many not just soldiers. Many desires were sparked and put aflame in love letters, keeping families together despite being far apart. Then, of course, keeping memories of loved ones even after they are long gone.  But just what kind of a mark did they leave? Let us take a look throughout the ages at just how well letters fared. HISTORY Letter writing started in ancient India, Egypt, and Summer. It continued in Rome, ancient Greece, and ancient China. It has kept its place until today. (2) In the ancient world, the first letters were written on different materials: metal, lead, wax-coated wooden tablets, pottery fragments, animal skin, and papyrus. (2) Letters were a chief form of communication, actually for quite a while the only way, for people to communicate over longer distances. They hold a long and important part in the history of mankind. (2) The golden era for letter-writing happened to be the 18th century. In this era, the epistolary novel became a hugely popular genre. It came from the format of letters. An epistle is a writing directed or sent to a person or group of people, usually an elegant and formal didactic letter. The epistle genre of letter-writing was common in ancient Egypt as part of the scribal-school writing curriculum. (2) KINDS OF LETTERS Either way letter writing became a way of expressing oneself during this time. Besides conveying certain messages, instructions, and news and sending business correspondences, writers began to use letters, especially women, to express their views and intelligence. Women were given a voice for the first time and did not want to let it go. Rightfully so. Women's voices matter. (2) There are different kinds of letters one can write: Audio letter: an audio recording sent by postal mail to a recipient. It was common when charges for long-distance telephone services were higher and before the widespread use of the Internet. Business letter: a letter from one company to another, or another type of organization and their customers, clients, or other external parties. Cease and desist letter: a document sent by one party, often a business, as a warning to another party that they believe the other party is committing an unlawful act Chain letter: a message attempting to convince the recipient to make a number of copies and pass them on to a certain number of recipients. Cover letter: a letter of introduction attached to another document such as a résumé or a curriculum vitae. Crossed letter: a manuscript letter that contains two separate sets of writing. One set of writing is written over the other at right angles. Dear John letter: a letter written to a man by his wife or romantic partner to inform him that their relationship is over, usually because she found another lover. Epistle: a writing directed or sent to a person or group of people, usually an elegant and formal didactic letter. Fan mail: mail sent to a public figure by his/her admirers or "fans". Form letter: a letter written from a template, rather than being specially composed for a specific recipient. Hate mail: a form of harassment. It usually consists of invective and potentially intimidating or threatening comments towards the recipient. Hybrid mail: mail that is delivered using a combination of electronic and physical delivery. Letter of credence: a formal diplomatic letter that designates a diplomat as ambassador to another sovereign state. Letter of intent: a document outlining the understanding between two or more parties that is to be formalized in a legally binding agreement. Letter of introduction: along with the visiting card, was an important part of polite social interaction in the 18th and 19th centuries. Letter of marque: government license in the Age of Sail that authorized a private person, to attack and capture vessels of a nation at war with the issuer, Letter of recommendation: a document in which the writer assesses the qualities, characteristics, and capabilities of the person being recommended in terms of that individual's ability to perform a particular task or function. Letter of resignation: a letter written to announce the author's intent to leave a position currently held Letter of thanks: a letter expressing appreciation to another. Letter to the editor: a letter sent to a publication about an issue of concern to the reader. Letters patent: a written order issued by a monarch, president or other head of state, granting an office, right, monopoly, title or status to a person or corporation. Love letter: an expression of love in written form. National Letter of Intent: a document used to indicate a student athlete's commitment to participating in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) colleges and universities in the United States. Open letter: a letter that is intended to be read by a wide audience, or a letter intended for an individual, but widely distributed intentionally. Poison pen letter: a letter or note containing unpleasant, abusive, or malicious statements or accusations about the recipient or a third party. Query letter: a formal letter proposing writing ideas to magazine editors, literary agents and sometimes publishing houses or companies. Sales letter: a piece of direct mail which is designed to persuade the reader to purchase a particular product or service in the absence of a salesman or saleswoman (2) POSTAL SERVICE - THE BOOM OF LETTERS Postal services played a huge role in the rise of letter writing among the common folk. It was their duty to bring your letter to its final destination, which involved lots of different personnel. All were entrusted with their special role.  It started with horses and carriages, which gradually bikes began to replace. When automobiles and motorcycles were invented they became part of the postal service. It made transportation of larger parcels and also large quantities of posts easier. Cargo ships and eventually planes made shipping overseas available.  DIGITAL ERA With the introduction of the telegraph, telephones, and eventually computers, the need for letters as a means of communication began to fall. Nowadays most communication is done through e-mails and text messages. News on the other hand spread mostly through social media. Yet still, the letters hold a place in our hearts, and the postal service continues to hold an important part in society though now mostly through delivering parcels and all sorts of packages.  What does the future hold? With even greater innovations coming around the corner, just what will our society look like? And most importantly I can not shake off the image of obese men and women being entertained by electronic devices in the movie called Walle. Just where are we headed? CONCLUSION Among the many writing styles letter writing still holds its place. Though less common nowadays, letters have throughout the ages held immeasurable value. Used for transferring news, knowledge, commands, reporting events, and other functions, letters ended up leaving a mark even in a literary sense by introducing the epistolary novel. And not only that, but they gave women a voice for the first time. Nowadays they have been overridden by e-mais and other digital means of communication. Yet still they hold a special place in the hearts of many. SOURCES Image via canva.com . Wikipedia. Letter (message). Accessed on 17.11.2024. Available on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letter_(message) Until next!

INTRODUCTION “Where is the love?” the singers and artists of Black Eyed Peace have asked themselves in one of their famous songs. I can't help but wonder too what with more and more details of heinous crimes done in Hollywood coming out. Just what all has been hidden?  While it is not exactly a complete surprise with rumors surfacing for years (Hell! Decades.) - one hopes, right? The more I hear, the more I realize just how broken this world is. All it takes is one glimpse into the news and we are met with nothing but negative talk. It seems as though the world is truly fallen.  Of course, all would say it is simply due to journalism and social media making everything way more accessible. I can’t say they do not have a point.  The word journalism derives from the French word “jour” meaning day. It denotes a shared piece of information – information that satisfies some social and public interest. (1) In this day and era it is pretty simple to spread information and news. But how did journalism begin and evolve?  HISTORY OF JOURNALISM FROM VOICE TO GLYPHS As God's creative work began through the spoken word, so did journalism begin its journey through the vocal cords of faithful messengers. Word of mouth was the method through which messages were conveyed until the need for a written word arose. (2) Not so long ago, I watched a documentary on one of the ancient Biblical archeological sites they were digging up. The information they conveyed was rather intriguing. Contrary to popular opinion, it seems as though religion brought forth the need for writing systems.  At the temple, the increasing rise of the population demanded more sacrifices. As a result, the clergy began storing up even greater amounts of cattle and grain. A new problem presented a new need - the need for accounting. And so writing systems were birthed with clay tablets being the format of choice.  FROM CLAY TO PAPER In Ancient Rome the first journalistic product as we know it today began. Acta Diurna, the first newsletter of public speeches and whatnot appeared. In China, the reports of court sessions were recorded from the beginning of the Tang Dynasty. (3) Handwriting remained with us until the invention of the printing press. It was around 1609 that the first newspaper was created in Germany. Correspondents took on the role of “journalists” giving this wave the name correspondence journalism. They provided political, economic, cultural as well as sensationalistic news objectively and impartially. (1)  THE RISE OF OPINION JOURNALISM AND COMMERCIALIZATION In the 17th and 18th centuries, a shift took place and enlightenment entered the stage. Presenting facts and reasoned arguments took the front with periodicals and journals being the main theme. In Europe in the 18th century, one could detect a hint of “literary journalism” and “advocacy journalism” as well. (2, 3) The 19th century brought commercialization and the rise of yellow journalism in America (1). Newspapers became cheaper during the Penny Press and the invention of the telegraph made things even easier and faster (4). Gradually the American model of commercialization took over Europe too. (1) Professionalisation took place in the second half of the 19th century in Europe and the 20th in America. (1, 3) During the American Revolution period, journalism was used to politically sway the audience with the use of political cartoons and illustrations. It continued similarly in the post-revolution period. In 1920 the broadcast era entered the scene starting with radio transmission, which was then joined by television broadcasts in 1940 across the globe. (2) This required new formats to be developed and the radio to be adapted, including live broadcasts, news programs, news magazines, documentaries, interviews, talk shows, etc (1) INVESTIGATIVE AND NEW JOURNALISM In the mid-1900s investigative journalism finally took off and gave journalism its signature image. Also known as watchdog journalism, its primary duty was to inform people of the wrongdoing of any governmental or organizational individual or group. It was during this era that slowly the New Journalism began to emerge. (2) With many of the journalists being dreamers themselves, thus began the introduction of the so-called New Journalism. Traditional journalism merged with literary techniques. Reporting in the form of short stories became quite fashionable as mentioned in the article The Birth of ‘The New Journalism’; by Tom Wolfe. (5) He, not a particular fan at the beginning, became enamored by it. As one of the frontiers of this new style, he mentions that one had to almost enter the mind of a reader to bring this new style to life. The line between truth and fiction I believe slowly started to dissipate.  THE INTERNET/DIGITAL ERA With the arrival of the internet journalism began a new chapter - globalization. Now all is easily accessible and at the tip of our fingertips. But as beneficial as that is, the quality of journalism has fallen even further. That line between lie and truth has even further dissipated.  One does not know what to trust anymore. As Mr. Musk says, the media tries to influence people too much with their opinions and occasionally deliberate misrepresentation of events. Sometimes I wonder if we all do it on a certain level. Have we become so desensitized that we only notice it if it is blatant?  I believe there might be a place for storytelling or similar components within reporting. But there has to be a clear distinction between fiction and truth. And there should be as much objectivity as possible.  Also with AI on the rise, one needs to be careful with the information they read. Too many fake videos are already rising. Videos of people saying things they probably never would on air or never would in general. ALL THINGS WILL BE REVEALED  Yes; objectivity and stating facts need to return. We can be creative even when reporting yet that does not mean we twist the truth. There are people’s lives or careers we could impact negatively. Still, boldness when speaking truth is required too.   Everything gets revealed with time. In light of recent events I wish sometimes, they would be revealed much sooner. But God truly does not get mocked. Besides the obvious case of P. Diddy, Michael Jackson’s story does make one’s heart ache. I have barely scratched the surface and after recent allegations wonder just how much wrong was done against him. Was he innocent or was he guilty? All I will say is, “God let it all be revealed. And let your will be done.” CONCLUSION Journalism holds an important position in the society. Its roots go back to the very beginning starting with word of mouth. Then clay tablets and glyphs came into play and were eventually replaced by paper, which centuries later got replaced by bits and bytes. Its purpose remained the same - the delivery of information of public interest. The styles varied significantly throughout time from correspondence journalism to new journalism and eventually internet journalism. With the latter sadly came also the downfall in quality. Nowadays it is best to check different sources before forming an honest opinion.  SOURCES Jürgen Wilke. Journalism. European History Online, 6.8.2013. Available at https://www.ieg-ego.eu/en/threads/european-media/journalism   Nora Torok. A Brief History of Journalism: From Hieroglyphic Inscriptions to Bits and Bytes. January 26, 2024. Available at https://thesciencesurvey.com/features/2024/01/26/a-brief-history-of-journalism-from-hieroglyphic-inscriptions-to-bits-and-bytes/ Brittanica. Journalism. Nov 3, 2024. Available at https://www.britannica.com/topic/journalism Rodrigo Zamith. The American Journalism Handbook - Concepts, Issues, and Skills, 1st Ed. University of Massachusetts Amherst, 13.2.2024. Available at https://socialsci.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Communication/Journalism_and_Mass_Communication/The_American_Journalism_Handbook_-_Concepts_Issues_and_Skills_(Zamith)/06%3A_History_of_U.S._Journalism/6.02%3A_Journalism_in_the_19th_Century Tom Wolfe. The Birth of ‘The New Journalism’. From the Archives, Sept. 15, 2023. Available at https://thesciencesurvey.com/features/2024/01/26/a-brief-history-of-journalism-from-hieroglyphic-inscriptions-to-bits-and-bytes/

Many are men's escapades. It is no different with their furry companions. Archie is well known for his hunting trips, shepherding journeys, hikes, and even treasure hunts. Today, he was on one such expedition. One that caused quite an uproar. Archie loved many things. While food and toys were usually his top priority, he liked to chew on a slipper or two here and there. Endearing his owners find it when they come home from the fields or work to Archie waiting for them with a slipper inside his mouth.  A sight that never failed to put a smile on their face. So Archie came up with a plan. A plan that resulted in some unexpected responses. A set of four paws marred the pristine look of the thin layer of dew gracing the grass on a chilly wintery Monday morning. With his owners already steeped deep in their work and the sheep securely resting during this winter inside their pen, Archie was left to his own devices.  With a mission in mind, he began his assignment just a couple of steps away from his home. The location? His neighbor's house.  His friendly neighbors were used to his presence. He came over many times. His coming over was no surprise. undetectedly he sneaked inside their home and went into his detective mode. Immediately he locked eyes with his end goal - a pair of slippers.  Yes; our little Archie was on a hunt for slippers. He decided to go in search of as many as he could find. All to surprise his owners and prove his hunting skills. Taking the first pair into his mouth, he took them back home and left them at the front door.  Sneaking back outside he went in search of more. So went his morning for the next two hours. He managed to get to the fifth house right on the outskirts of the town and snag the tenth pair. Upon returning home though he heard a slightly angry and exasperated voice calling out his name.  The voice belonged to his owner. Archie slightly confused quickly yet warily returned home. He stopped a step before the front door and realized his owner was looking at the big pile of slippers angrily and worriedly.  Even more confused and now anxious Archie became. His owner turned towards him with an angry expression gracing their face. Quickly it turned into one of exasperation, then sympathy.  No one could remain angry with Archie for too long. He was usually such a good boy. Knowing that he meant no evil, the owner began the assignment of returning all the slippers. The owners of the slippers were not angry at Archie for long or at all. He was beloved by them all.  Still, Archie recognized his mistake. He went on a slippery road and realized the decision was not a good one. Never again did Archie go on a similar hunt. Instead, he welcomed his owners as he did before with the usual pair of slippers between his teeth. Until next time!

Following the winter holidays Victor and his peers were to have an excursion trip to the brand new Natural History Museum of Darhlow. This year has been insane. First, the marigold project, then their class went to Disneyworld as a treat from their homeroom teacher Mrs. Goldstein. This was her last year teaching them, she was moving across the state because her husband got a promotion. It would be a sad parting but that is how things are sometimes.  Another excursion followed the trip to Disneyworld. They trekked through Mianus River Gorge Preserve in search of bobcats and weasels. This time they were to study the natural history of North America. A brand new museum with modern moving representatives of the pre-historic Dinosaurs and even rides like the ones in amusement parks.  ‘This is going to be fun’ thought Victor. “We should go on that ride for sure”, Charlie said to him. “Yes. I want to see the dinosaurs. I overheard Brian saying there is a whole moving section too. We should stick to the dinosaurs today.” Victor agreed.  “What’s your favorite?” Charlie asked out of the blue. “My favorite?” Victor repeated turning towards his friend with a confused look on his face. “Yes, your favorite dinosaur?” Charlie clarified.  “Oh, my favorite dinosaur? T-Rex of course.” Victor answered. Then almost as an afterthought added, “Yours?”  “It’s Triceratops. Did you watch all the Jurassic Park movies?” Charlie continued, “I haven’t watched the latest one. You?” answered Victor. “Yeah, I watched all of them. I’m a huge fan. I wish we could get to see them for real. But I guess the closest we will get to it is the simulation we will see today.” Charlie revealed to Victor. Small talk and laughter filled the bus. It became an ever-present companion as the ride continued onwards until they arrived at Darhlow Museum.  Together as a group, they were greeted by a lovely young lady named Vivian. She was bubbly and quite fun to listen to. She led them through all the different sections of the museum. It was all fascinating, but not what Victor was looking forward to. His impatience was getting the better of him, he was only interested in the dinosaurs after all. It looked almost as though they were not even going to look into that section. Of course, Victor ended up being wrong as he tended to be when impatient.  The Dinosaur world as they called it, happened to be their last stop. This place was their “pride”. The most expensive and impressive part of the whole museum. Solely based on this section they already managed to get a reputation as one of the best spots for kids to spend time at. It took them around 6 months to get on the list. Extremely quickly, considering how long it usually took. Soon Victor and his classmates were going to find out why. Their first stop was the evolution and history section. It explained the theory and perceived history of the dinosaurs. Ms. Vivian guided them through it in detail and explained all. After about another 30 minutes of her explaining how other animals evolved from Dinosaurs the class was finally dismissed. They were given 2 hours to explore the rest of the museum, preferably the ‘Which dino is this?’ and ‘The world as it was’ parts of the dinosaur section.   As soon as they were given the mark Victor and Charlie were off to catch the ride of their life. Which ride you may be wondering? The ride through The world as it was. A 30-minute-long virtual reality ride through the nine different habitats the dinosaurs lived in. The line to get on the train was 20 meters long and the trains transported 12 people at a time. Victor and Charlie had to wait a whole 15 minutes. For the impatient Victor, they felt like 3 hours. But when finally on the train with their goggles on, their world was flipped upside down. Victor would later say, he would have waited actual 3 hours to be able to go again.  Their journey began slowly in the flatlands of Pangea. Victor and Charlie with 10 other girls and boys first met the herds of plant-eating Ceratopsians, Hadrosaurs, and Ornithopods who were grazing on prehistoric plants. Suddenly a herd of small lizard-looking animals rushed into the scene on their right. Chasing them were meat-eating Velociraptors and Tyrannosaurs. The train sped up following them at their great speed.   The terrain became more and more dry. Tyrannosaurs relinquished the chase while Velociraptors kept up their pursuit. Soon they were joined by Proteoceratops and Oviraptors. Looking around the kids realized they were not in the flatlands anymore. The terrain was now even drier and the air even warmer. The train was now strolling through the deserts. It kept going faster and faster after the dinosaurs until it overcame them. To the surprise of all though it didn't stop accelerating. All heads turned behind, watching the ever more distant dinosaurs they left behind. Turning their heads back in front, they got to admire the vastness of the deserts. The train's speed soon made things blurry and the weather became chill. Already blown away by the sights they saw, going through a cloud of mist opened them up to a new world. The train began to slow down little by little until it settled at a steady intermediate speed. Capable of seeing their surroundings better now, an involuntary chill went down Victor's spine at the frosty look of the environment they rolled into. They found themselves in the polar regions of Earth. The sight of the cold-blooded Ankylosaurs and other cold-blooded dinosaurs may have contributed to the chilly feeling too. They entered a valley with high mountains towering over them on each side. The ice slowly began to be replaced by rocky terrain with some small vegetation. In the far distance, they could see the exit from the valley they were far approaching. There the terrain was similar - rocky with patches of vegetation springing up here and there. The chilly feeling persisted for a short while when it suddenly started to give way to warmer weather once more. The rocky terrain gave way to the soggy low-lying wetlands. A place where herbivores such as Iguanodon, Polacanthus, and Hypsilophodon had their domain. Steadily they continued through the wetlands, expertly zooming through the soggy terrain at a slow pace. When they finally hit more steady ground the train accelerated once more. That warm feeling persisted when the train began to approach big trees at a slightly more accelerated pace. Soon it was zooming through lush green forests with Diplodocus dinosaurs racing alongside the train while long-necked dinosaurs could be seen eating vegetation in the back. As quickly as they entered the lush green forests they also exited. Other flowers and vegetation joined the trees and swampy became the land. Duck-billed dinosaurs entered the scene with some other smaller species surrounding the train. All of a sudden they started to slow down. The train's back right side also started to dip little by little. “Captain we have a problem?" a voice said all of a sudden. "Seems like our last set of wheels is being pulled in by quicksand.” it continued. “Roger that! Get some hands up front and pull this train out of it!” was the Captain's response. The guests were in for a spectacle. A jeep with 4 men appeared. They all tentatively yet quickly exited the jeep and started with their mission. Effectively they slowly managed to get the train out of the quicksand. Not a moment too soon it happened as a T-rex started to emerge from the foliage at that precise moment. Too distracted it was with chasing a small dinosaur to notice them. The train once more started to run, the men were safe inside their jeep when it finally detected their presence. Too late though for all the vehicles with their passengers were well on their way already. “Safe and sound. Boy, that was a close one.” one of the soldiers from the jeep said.  Throughout the ride, Victor and the rest of the boys have been way too stumped to even comment. ‘This is insane!’ thought Victor. He will forever be grateful he could be part of this.  Done with the swamps, they soon exited the forest and gazed upon the beautiful blue-looking lagoon. What a sight to behold with Ptesaurus flying all over the place. Some were standing in the shallow water gazing at the newcomers disturbing their peace, while others just dived to collect their dinner from the pristine-looking lagoon.  Leaving them to their dinner the train with Victor and his peers boarded a ship that traveled towards a nearby Island. A needed restful 5 minutes the ride lasted. Bright blue sky filled with flying dinosaurs was the sight that accompanied them. Soon after they were departing from the ship when giant pterosaur Hatzegopteryx towered over them. Luckily though, they were not their prey. The dwarf-sized titanosaur Magyarosauruses were. Animals on Islands evolved smaller body sizes to save on resources or so it is theorized. It was no different in this case. The train rode around the small Island down the coastline for a couple of minutes. Kids took in the natural beauty of the Island and the dinosaurs living there seeing the occasional Pterosaur dive into the sea to get some fish. All the habitats had a different feel to them. The Island felt mysterious for an odd reason. It felt as though something was hiding in the forests on their left. Lurking there in the shadows. The feeling left them once they boarded the ship once more. They were returning to the mainland.  They exited soon after at the shoreline where they had to navigate their way back to the base by steering their way through all the different dinosaurs walking along the shoreline. By far one of the most exciting parts of the ride. Seeing the plant-eating dinosaurs up close, even from beneath. Going through the legs of the last dinosaur signaled this train ride as a success. All that was left was making the last couple of meters to the base right in front of them. But this wouldn't be the Dinosaur World if everything went smoothly. From the forest emerged a T-rex that looked straight at them. It took a lunge after them and ran after the train at full speed. But who knew that this train could go so fast? It accelerated to its maximum speed. The T-Rex soon gave up on the chase when it realized it was not gaining up on the train at all. Doors to the base opened with a sliding mechanism and quickly closed after they drove through. Safely they came to their destination.  They departed from the train, walked through a tunnel, and emerged near the beginning of the train ride’s long cue. Contemplating whether they should go again, Charlie’s desire to see the rest of the exhibition prevailed. They stepped towards the third part of the world of Dinosaurs - “What dino is this?” showering the ride and Museum with high praises. 'What Dino is this?' ended up being a long hall full of movable skeletons and pictures. The movable skeletons were made from hard plastic and were not just for display. When you touched a certain part other parts moved. It was perfect for entertainment purposes and for observing the moving mechanisms of dinosaurs. There happened to be some real skeletons inside glass atriums too, usually found close to the big-sized skeletons. Playing with these skeletons was almost as fun as the ride discovered Victor and Charlie. Though Charlie was the one most excited to see this section, Victor ended up being the one who enjoyed it the most. Truly intrigued by the moving mechanisms, he had to play catch with his buddy on two occasions. When he got distracted a third time though, Charlie was long gone. Decided to in go search of him he soon steered away from his mission when he noticed a separate room. Inside the biggest skeleton, he had seen up until now stood. In the far right corner there stood an atrium and a smaller skeleton of a baby dino too. Excitement ran through Victor. He quickly moved forward when the big dinosaur suddenly moved. The movement startled Victor and he ended up tripping when moving backward. He landed in the atrium and broke the glass.  Shook he stood there for a bit when panic suddenly told Victor to run for safety. He quickly departed from the room and ran for his life down the hall until he caught up with the majority of his classmates. There amidst them happened to be Charlie too. They were all gathering up since it was nearing departure time. Joining Charlie he took a moment to calm down. Realization hit him and he thought to himself, ‘None needs to know about it!’ Victor relaxed and once more started to enjoy himself. Sadly though it quickly got replaced by guilt that once more wiped the smile off his face. Even Charlie noticed and asked, “You ok?”. Victor nervously replied that he was fine. But the feeling of guilt kept increasing even further and got to its highest when their group rejoined their teacher in the lobby.  Victor tried to ignore it, but he finally caved in and approached his teacher. After spilling the beans, together they approached the front desk. There Victor retold his story. Expecting anger and punishment he waited there nervously while they were checking the damage. When they returned, though, he was surprised by their appreciation for telling the truth. As Ms. Vivian said “Thank you for telling us about the broken atrium. Someone might have cut themselves on the broken glass. And we now know that the tile mechanism that set off the dinosaur was a bad idea.  We will have to rethink the whole room.” The room was sealed off until further notice.    They went so far as to let Victor pick a favorite toy from their collection. Thinking of picking a T-rex, he ended up opting for a bobcat instead surprising even himself. Maybe he had enough ddinosaurs for the day. On the bus ride back home, Victor contemplated the whole day in silence. He couldn’t help but feel glad that he had chosen to do the right thing. Not only did the museum profit, but they even let him pick a toy. And no one else got hurt.  When arriving home he told his mother everything. She praised him like the Museum workers too. “God gave you grace to do the right thing, though it was uncomfortable to do so.” Before going to bed Victor thought about his mother's words. While reading the Bible he happened to read in 2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV), “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and love, and a sound mind.” For the first time started to understand what that verse might mean. Until next time!

What do you do when nothing is going according to your will? What do you do when you finally begin to realize you may have been part of the problem all along? As I heard pastor David Diga Hernandez say one time, “God’s grace is even for the ones who should have known better”. No matter how long you have walked with God. No matter how hard you fall. He is still there to pick you up and give you victory and beauty for ashes and to the brim fill your cup. INTRODUCTION “You can fulfill your wildest dreams with God”, says Benji Alexander, a successful businessman, and son of God who disciple nations. His life today is a testimony of God’s redemptive power and the actions of two faithful disciples of God who refused to give up when things looked bleak. Years ago Benji was looking in the eyes of his disappointed, disheartened, and discouraged wife Alanna. His family life was falling apart and his finances were not on the right track. But in the area of their biggest defeats, God gave them overwhelming victory. SHOULD I KEEP GOING ON Sometimes in the Church, I wonder why I even bother. As if I am not hard on myself enough, the constant feeling as though everyone around me is judging me and just waiting to see me fall can be the most disheartening out there. 'Why even bother?' Has that thought ever plagued you too? “Perseverance is key”, some say. “Patience you need” is often the advice. “Don’t give up” others mention. That is all helpful to a degree. But at the precipice of your greatest failures, you need more than just encouraging words, you need a plan - a godly plan that will make your way through. I mean, how many times have you stood there and wondered, “I know that! But what now? What do I do?.” Finding that perfect plan can be hard when you are on your own. It is great when you have at least that partner with whom you can pray to the Lord. It is not impossible though. I believe God hears the prayers even of those completely alone and isolated. Does the Word not say that He leaves behind the 99 healthy sheep just to get to the one that is lost?  No matter how impossible it may look, God does have a godly plan. I believe He can pierce through any noise and any obstacle to make sure you catch it, implement it, and bring it to pass.  Benji and Alanna Alexander found themselves in such a place. Instead of giving up, they took on the challenge of rebuilding their marriage, ministry, and relationship with God. They took extreme ownership. EXTREME OWNERSHIP Their turning point began when they opted for open communication. No more hidden grudges, cold shoulders, frustration, or desires for vengeance. They decided to speak about their pain so that they would know what they needed to work on.  When they made that choice and followed through with it, sought the Lord for guidance and a plan, God took the wheel and gave them a plan. Wisdom came to reside with them and revealed opportunities, plans, and the vision for their restoration. The process of healing and restoration began.  God did not only completely restore their marriage, but gave them even more. What the devil meant for evil God took and did something beautiful with it. He revealed to them the 7 sacred pathways to a successful marriage, helped them build a successful business model and platform Raising Royalty, and guided them to a deeper intimacy with Him. They shed away their orphan mentality and began to rule and reign in their lives. BEAUTY FOR ASHES What started in the family is now translating itself into their outward work. Through them discipling new sons and daughters of God they are now impacting many communities and even nations.  And it all started with one little seed of faith and hope. A little seed of perseverance, and obedience to seek God even when meager the outcome looked at best. In their book The 7 Sacred Pathways to Intimacy, they reveal the steps and principles all should take into consideration when in a similar situation or preparing for marriage. Even people looking to break free from the orphan spirit will find many useful clues inside this book and on their Raising Royalty platform. Those are the steps they took and successfully overcame their differences. They rose from the ashes victorious and so can you. The 7 Sacred Pathways to Intimacy - Free w/ $39 USD Masterclass Upgrade CONCLUSION Dreams are attainable. Restoration and rebuilding can be achievable. With God nothing is impossible. In their book, The 7 Sacred Pathways To Intimacy Benji and Alanna Alexander reveal the steps, principles, and ways of God through which they restored their marriage broke the orphan spirit off of them, and began to rule and reign in their sphere of influence. God gave them beauty for ashes and He can do so for you too.  Until next time!