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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Clothes (11/02/12)
Change my What?

SUNDAY – Went home for weekend. Was surprised by a family dinner for my birthday! Fun! Mom got me a new outfit. I actually like it – jeans, pretty cotton top and sweater. Nice, considering her taste in clothes. I wore it to church today. Went with Mom, Dad and Chris. The pastor talked about how God meets you where you are. Heard that before…… I didn’t get it then either….

MONDAY – (sigh) slept in again ..almost missed class. Wore my new outfit – got compliments…sweeeeet! UGH then my roommate just had to RUIN my day! She thinks she owns the fridge! Again, with the gigantic brown bag that takes up the entire top shelf. She thinks she’s MOST important here. I should hide that bag then we’ll just see if she notices she has a roommate –ME!
Today’s Bible Verse– Romans 12:5 NIV- “…..Don’t think more highly of yourself than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment…..” (she should be reading this)

TUESDAY – Up late, slept in my clothes, kept my new outfit on, still looks great. How do I do it? The sweater is warm in this chilly weather. After class, ran to store for new project supplies. Saw MOOOONA. Beauty queen Mona!…She’s got it all; perfect hair, perfect size, perfect everything. At least I have this outfit, which looks good on me! She said, “Hi,” with the perfect smile. I waved (loser). Worked on project……. Wish my hair was as long as Mona’s or that I could be that skinny!
Today’s Bible Verse – 1 Samuel 16:7 NIV- “….Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (ALL men look at Mona’s outsides)

WEDNESDAY – Mom surprised me by bringing dinner. Instead of a nice visit, she gave me a lecture about changing my clothes…blah….blah, just because I was still wearing my new outfit. She left kind of mad. Reeaallly, Mother! I’m in college…..not kindergarten! I WILL change….when I’m ready…..when I want to….when it’s time.
Today’s Bible Verse – Proverbs 1:8 “…do not forsake your mother’s teaching” (uh, oh very weird)

THURSDAY – Went to classes and wore my outfit again! Someone said, “Nice sweater.” See MOM! After class, I had to ask the professor about the project, for some reason he kept stepping away from me, but he answered it.
Today’s Bible Verse – I’m too tired tonight…..

SATURAY/AM – stayed out late and went to a club with friends. Wore my new outfit – woo hoo! Kept my sweater on – ketchup stain from Thursday’s burger and fries. Lisa asked where I got my sweater. I said my birthday. She made some lame joke about “washing the second-hand smell and stains out BEFORE wearing it.” Everyone laughed, except me.
Today’s & Yesterday’s Bible verse –Galatians 5:19-22 “…..The acts of the sinful nature are obvious….witchcraft…hatred (Lisa was a hater)…..jealousy….fits of rage….and envy…those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (whew, glad that’s not me)
SATURDAY/PM - Came home and got NO appreciation at all!!! Mom nagged about changing clothes, dirty, stinky, hygiene…blah. Mom’s lucky that I’m not into witchcraft or fits of rage or I might have put an evil spell on her. (haha, funny me)

SUNDAY – WOW! What a day! Wore my outfit! Though, I got the ‘Mom-eye’ all through church - even from 3 feet away, where they sat.
Pastor’s message- (amaaazing here) He talked about how Gods meets you where you are…… (really again! & yeah right… what I was thinking). The pastor said, “Just ask God to open your heart to His words.” Okay, (crazy good part here) so I came back to my apartment and actually asked Him. WOW! Then - I looked back a my week of journaling and saw it! He WAS talking to ME!
My roommate had later apologized for the bag. It’s medicine she needs and it has to be in a cold, dark place to stay effective. What if I had hid it?! I was the one thinking that I am most important, but I am NOT. Then I found out yesterday- Perfect Mona was arrested for dealing drugs. DEALING DRUGS!!! She looks good on the outside, but God knows what goes on inside. That was me- envious and jealous…. Oh, yeah, and I should listen to Mom. I knew it. I was just being stubborn. And God showed me.
I changed my clothes ………………………..God is changing my heart.
Thank you GOD! ttYt (talk to You tomorrow)

Note- Bible verses are paraphrased
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
11/10/12
This is a brilliant idea. I loved how well we got to know the characters through the journal. It was a great read.

Some tiny bits of red ink: When you use ellipses, they are always done with three dots. If it is at the end of a completed sentence (not just trailing off) then add a period. The experts disagree about whether there should be spaces or not. The common consensus is this . . . rather than this...
The most important thing is to stay consistent.
I did wonder if a person would actually use them while journaling, but I can see a certain type of personality (like your MC) doing it. However, I find it hard to believe that a college female would wear the same sweater over and over. Most girls are quite fussy about their appearance and style. I know more teens who would change their outfit several times a day. I wonder if it would be more believable had the MC been younger.

However, even with that said, I thought your idea was creative and fresh. You definitely covered the topic. I liked your idea of giving the reader a peek into the MC's thoughts via the diary. The ending was great. It's what I call God throwing bricks at me. I can be hard-headed and ignore him so to get through to me he tosses some bricks in my direction. :) Nice job.
Randy Foncree
11/10/12
This kept my interest...I especially liked the progression of this piece...God bless and thanks for sharing...
Frankie Kemp 
11/14/12
I think I get your metaphor. Your MC was comfortable in her clothes--comfortable and confident. They made her feel safe and important, but she couldn't see what they looked like to other people. She saw only through her own filter and wasn't hearing what the Lord was telling her. I could identify with that--but I think Shann makes a valid point that a college-age girl NOT changing her clothes is a little unbelievable. HOWEVER . . . if you were going for the satire of it--trying to highlight how ridiculous we humans can all be sometimes when we stay in our own comfort zones and in our own ideas, maybe it does work. That's the craft of writing--making what works for us work in our readers. I think this is a good piece because it will make people think. What could you do to get a reader to let go of his unbelief? I don't know . . .maybe doing that would defeat the purpose of the piece.
Myrna Noyes
11/15/12
Since I keep a diary/journal, I was interested in reading about your MC's week. I liked how the daily Scripture verses fit with what was going on in her life, and I loved the line at the end that said, "I changed my clothes...God is changing my heart." There is a good message in this story! :)
Myrna Noyes
11/15/12
CONGRATULATIONS, Linda, on your first place level win!! WAY TO WRITE!! :D
Bea Edwards 
11/15/12
I absolutely adored how you used journaling to illustrate God's methods of speaking to us!
Wonderful and creative entry-congratulations on your level win. Write on.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
11/16/12
Congratulations on your first place in level one and for ranking 18th overall!