*POEMS:*

"What a Wonderful Maker" By Siera Williams

There are many things
In life that we regret
So many twists and turns
Our paths we have not met

Complicated things we make
Dramatic turns in life we take

Through many things
We go astray
But through it all
We will be okay

For there is Someone
Up way past the sky
Who is watching over us
When we need to cry

He's big and great
And loving as well
He even saves us
From the depths of hell

I can go on for eternity
About this Creator
But for now I'll end with:
What a wonderful Maker!
*end of poem*

This is a poem from my friend Marie to me:
"A Ray of Sunshine" -By Marie Smith
A ray of sunshine
Warms the heart
It gives me gladdness
It helps me start

Like a burst of energy
On a gloomy day
Is like your cheery smile
That won't go away

It comsumes my thoughts
It takes over my mind
When it is dark
You're who I can find

The sunshine spreads
All over the earth
At least in my mind
You're what it's worth

Don't leave my side
Please do stay
My ray of sunshine
You'll be there all the way
*End of poem*

"THE PURSUER" -By my great friend, Kayla Glass

I am running as hard and as fast as I can. I have been running for weeks, maybe months. I do not care where I am going, just as long as I get away from my Pursuer. No matter how far I go, He still pursues. I have wronged Him so many times that I lost count a long time ago. I have run from Him before, and He always took me back. However, this time is different; I have gone too far, how could He forgive me of all that I have done?

He is getting closer, so I run even faster. My lungs ache from lack of a proper breath, my muscles cry out in pain for a rest, but I keep going for fear of what He might do to me if I stop for even a second’s rest. Will He beat me until I am weak? Will He condemn me to the grave?

I keep running.

I am coming out of the maze of the forest into the openness of the fields. I look back to see if I have finally lost Him, but I look back in vain. For He is still behind me, still pursuing me, as though He has never tired.

I feel like I will collapse if I go any further. I am about to give up, to accept whatever punishment awaits me. I realize that it is pointless to keep going, I will never get away, and He will never stop pursuing.

Therefore, I stop, just standing there now, tears streaming down my face, waiting to accept the painful punishment that I know I deserve. I hear Him getting closer, closer, and even closer now. He is now directly behind me. I stand there, ready and expecting harsh punishment, only to feel the impact of warm loving arms wrap around me and to hear a soft gentle voice saying, "it’s all right, I still love you. You could never do anything to change that, ever."

I realize that the only Pursuer I have been running from was Love.

By, Kayla Glass
Love is Patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.1 Corinthians 13:4-7


*"Snowflakes"* -By Siera Williams*

*Snowflakes are a special treat
Some you can play with
Some you can eat

Don't eat the yellow ones
That is the trick
For if you do
You are likely to get sick

Just pick up one snowball
It has more than one snowflake
Throw it at someones face
Just like you would a pie, or a cake

Just by looking up
It seems like part of God's glory
When snowflakes fall down
They will tell you the story*

"Special Friend" -By Siera Williams
-To my very special friend, Jamie B.

I would like to talk about
A very special friend
Who will always be with me
Until the very end

She's funny, smart, and dorky too
And just like me
She's missing a cookie or two

No matter how crazy we get
We can be serious
Sometimes we regret

Through all the times
Good or bad
We always make up
And we are never ever sad


OK, MY FRIEND WROTE THIS NEXT POEM TO ME SO YOU BETTER LIKE IT CUZ I LOVE IT AND I WILL ALWAYS CHERISH IT SO NOT ONE BAD WORD ABOUT IT OR ELSE! I'TS ABOUT OUR FRIENDSHIP... ENJOY... I MEAN IT!

*"True Friends" -By Breanna Duncan*

*We are two friends that can go through life together,
And we will be true friends forever.

Even though things may get hard,
We can have those days of acting like retards.

Times will pass by, and people won't act so shy.
And once you find out a lot of things are a lie,
I will be there when you need to cry.

Our friendship is like a stone wall,
And a stone wall always stands tall.

Even when things get scary,
We'll work together and make it merry.

Of course we'll have our ups and downs,
But we can always act like clowns.

And when those boys come around,
We'll just give them a little frown.

And when that drama comes around the corner,
Don't be a mourner.

We'll stick together like gum in hair,
For we always knew how to share.*
*end of poem*