Announcement (No, the Blog is Not Ending!)

Isn't this little waterfall pretty? We came across it while hiking last week.   

     Hello everyone! Today it's Laura writing, instead of Evangeline. I'm sure you've noticed I haven't written on here too much lately. One of the reasons is because I'm not sure I want to keep sharing chapters on here. I'm trying to make a book about "A Greater Purpose", and I don't want everyone to already know what will happen. Although the book will be a bit different, and definitely have more in it than the blog posts, I don't want to share too much, and discourage everyone from reading the book. 

     Also, I was hoping this blog would be an outlet for Evangeline to share about things she loves, which it is, but I think it would make more sense after people know her better. Once I finish her book, and people know her story, it will make more sense when she shares random extra things about herself.

     In conclusion, this blog is not over! I just think I'm going to hold off on it for a little while. Hopefully I can publish the book, and if I do, I'll definitely be posting about it on here. I would share the cover reveal on here once it gets closer to publication, and do a giveaway for it when it comes out. After that, I would hope to make this a fun place where Evangeline posts diary entries, recipes, contests, and other fun things!

     I'll still be posting on Flowers In My Basket , so you can follow along there! I hope you all have a great rest of Summer!

Laura

Answers to Q & A

     Hello! "Ez" commented a few questions on my last post, so today I'm going to be answering them! If you have any questions, it's not too late to comment them below! -Evangeline

     1. Who do you live with? I live + work at the Bluebridge Home for Girls with Mr. and Mrs. McGrady, the orphanage keepers, and twenty-six girls.

     2. Where do you live? Whoops, I sort of answered this in question 1. To be more specific though, I live in Bluebridge Colorado.

     3. Why is your profile picture not in color, but your other pictures are? I live in 1932, so colored pictures are not as easy to come by as black and white or sepia ones are.

4. Who drew the Blueridge Folks? It looks as if it were an amazing artist. Whoever that is, you should pay her. Yes, Ez, you are very good at drawing. ; )

5. How old are you? I, Evangeline, am twenty-two.

6. Who wrote A Greater Purpose? Laura Danner

7. I didn't know you had computers in the 18' hundreds...............?????? I actually live in 1932, but you're right, we don't have computers yet. Laura helps me with my blog.

     This was a lot of fun! Thank you so much for sending in your questions "Ez"! Please feel free to comment any additional questions below!

Q & A

     Hello everyone! So, I've had this blog for several months now, but I'm wondering, how many people actually read it? If you read my blog, would you mind commenting below to let me know? I'm just curious to see if I have any readers.

     Also, I think it would be fun to tell you all a little bit more about myself, Evangeline. I'm going to try to do it in a Q & A post soon, so please leave questions for me in the comment section! They can be silly or serious, anything you want! 

     I can't wait to hear from you all! 

     -Evangeline

Elephants

     Where I grew up, there were elephants. Massive, regal, and quite intimidating if you get too close, these creatures are quite amazing. I know that most of you probably didn't get to grow up seeing elephants pass by your house, so I thought it'd be fun to share a little bit about them!

     Indian elephants, although smaller than African elephants, are still one of the largest animals in the world. Whenever they would walk past the Mission house where I grew up, the ground would shake. At first I was terrified, wondering if the ground would break open, but after living there for awhile, I grew accustomed to it, and actually began to enjoy it. Since we lived right in town, I would always get to see the royal processions go by, which almost always would included at least one elephant!

     Indian elephants are a brownish-grey, and are covered with a layer of short hairs, which actually work to cool them off. They feed mostly on grasses, but will eat the bananas right off your trees if you let them! 

   

     Elephants are really interesting animals, and very smart. They've been known to use things as tools when they're trying to accomplish something, and have a very long memory. 

     While they usually wouldn't bother us, Mama Sarah warned me when I went to get water to never approach one. Due to their massive size, they can be very dangerous.

     Elephants are such special creatures and I was so blessed to be able to grow up near them! I hope you enjoyed learning about them today. Have you ever seen an elephant?

Can Orphans Celebrate Christmas? | Chapter 4

     Winter had come to Bluebridge, Colorado, bringing with it freezing temperatures and lots of snow. The girls huddled close together, as they sat by the fire, to keep each other warm. Evangeline was in deep thought, reflecting. I've been here for almost a week, she mused. Time is flying! It's been such an amazing few days though. She thought back to her home in India, and to Papa Robert and Mama Sarah. Suddenly a wave of sadness came. How I miss them, she thought. I hope they are doing okay. I wonder what they are doing right now... Probably planning their Christmas service, she thought longingly, as she remembered how special they always made it. Most years, they would decorate the church building real fancy, and invite the community in for a big meal downstairs. Yakhni Pulao, that delicious rice and lamb dish served with yogurt, was one of Evangeline’s favorite dishes. They also had sanna cakes, and piles of mango and pineapple, cut into intricate little stars. Evangeline sighed. After the meal, they would make their way upstairs, where Papa Robert would read them all the Christmas story, straight from Luke. Then they'd sing carols until their throats were parched. Evangeline loved that part.

       The next morning during breakfast, Evangeline brought up Christmas. "Only six days until Christmas," she announced. "What do you all usually do to celebrate?" The girls looked around a each other, not sure what to say. Finally four-year-old Lavender broke the silence. "What's Christmas?" she asked, quizzically.

     "It's a holiday where rich parents give their children toys," fourteen-year old Mercy told her wistfully. 

     "Christmas is when I came here," twelve year old Poinsettia said cheerfully.

     "We don't usually celebrate Christmas," eighteen-year-old Charity answered.

     "But why?" Evangeline asked in shock. 

     "No point," Charity replied. "Besides, you need money to do that sort of thing. If you couldn't tell, we're sort of lacking in that."
     "Nonsense!" Evangeline cried. "You don't need money to celebrate Christmas! They're are lots of ways we can celebrate Christmas for free."

     "What's the point of celebrating Christmas if we can't afford presents?" ten-year-old Hannah asked.

     "The point?!" Evangeline exclaimed. "The point of Christmas is not presents, it's Jesus. We celebrate Christmas because Jesus came down as a baby to save us. Not only that, but it is possible to make  presents without spending money." 

     "Can orphans celebrate Christmas?" little Merry asked. "I always thought that Christmas was something you celebrated with your family." 

     "Merry," Evangeline reminded her, "of course we can celebrate Christmas! And besides, we are a family, don't you think?"

     "I guess." Merry answered solemnly.

     "I say we celebrate Christmas this year." Evangeline said after a moments pause. "Anyone with me? Reluctantly, the girls agreed. 

     After breakfast was finished, Evangeline went up to the attic. How can I make Christmas special for these girls? 

  

Dear Diary, Today I'm Pondering These Dear Girls...

Here is a beautiful mountain view I passed on my way to Colorado!

December 18th, 1932

     Dear Diary,

     Today I'm pondering these dear girls' lives. They've been through so much. Most of them lost both parents; some were abandoned. Rare is the case that they were lovingly brought here. If losing their parents isn't enough, then they usually are sent to various relatives' houses, tossed to-and-fro like a useless item no one has time for. After that, they are sent to some orphanage often filled with dirt, rats, and fleas, where they're taken care of by an exhausted, worn-out keeper. Before long, they're often sent to another orphanage, where they're a stranger all over again. Not all orphans have an ending like mine—adopted at age six by loving parents, raised in a clean and warm home, and taught about Jesus. No, most of them live at orphanages for the rest of their childhoods, then are off on the streets, unprepared and owning nothing. I've never considered how blessed I am before. It's my duty to help these girls.

     Note: The McGradys take care of the girls the best they can! They show more love to the children than any orphanage keeper I've ever met. The examples I gave were about most orphanages. The McGradys may be poor, but they are rich in love.

Twenty-six girls with stories like mine:

Orphaned, abandoned, just plain left-behind.

Some still remember their families long passed;

Some were just infants when they saw them last.

Twenty-six girls with stories so vast

Were brought to this home, where they're loved at long last.

But still, they hold memories of things long ago,

Places they've went, and people they've known.

Will they ever move on past the horrors of time?

Forgiveness and peace, will they ever find?

O Lord, how I beg Thee, please speak to their souls!

Fill them with hope, please make them all whole.

Chapter 3 | To Shine God's Light

     If you visited the Bluebridge Orphanage for Girls right now, you would find Mr. McGrady in the lobby, hammering down some nails that have recently come loose in the floor. He would point down the hall to the great room, and tell you Mrs. McGrady has just made some delicious pumpkin muffins, and that they taste mighty fine.
     When you reach the Great Room, you'll see an old Irish woman seated in a rocker, with a little baby on her lap, and two more playing on the ground. She sings an old Irish hymn, and she feeds the youngest from the bottle. When you approach, she stops, and asks how she can help you.

     "I'm just visiting," you tell her, and she points up stairs, telling you the girls are in the attic. "They're in a class right now," she says, "but you're welcome to go in and listen too." You head upstairs, expecting to find an old dingy attic, but are surprised and delighted when you enter the bright and cheery room!

     The shutters have been opened, letting a beautiful light shine through the windows, illuminating the room. There is a cot in the corner, covered with a beautiful patchwork quilt, made from vibrant scraps of red, blue, purple, and yellow. There are colorful drawing hanging all over the wall, and some beautiful fall flowers in a vase, brightening the room even more, while also adding a delightful aroma. In the center of the room, sits a young woman, surrounded by twenty-three girls, ranging from ages two to eighteen years, singing song after song, with smiles on their faces and joy in their hearts. Suddenly, they notice you, and stop.
     "May I help you?" the woman asks.
     "No," you tell her. "I was just hoping to stay a few minutes, if that's alright with you."
     "Of course!" she tells you with a smile. "And you're just in time! Elizabeth dear, would you please pass out the muffins now?"

     Excitedly, the little girl of about eight years old jumps up, and runs over to where the basket of muffins is lying in the corner. She passes them out to everyone, and you can tell she's been waiting anxiously to do so.
     "My name is Evangeline," the woman tells you, and you tell her your name in return. After a few moments, she begins to speak.

     "My dear girls," Evangeline begins. "Have you ever gazed at the moon, shining in the sky at night? I used to love to sit out on the roof as a girl, and watch at the moon and stars."
      Some girls nod, and she continues.
     "Did you know, that even though it appears the moon is illuminating the night, the moon does not shine of itself at all. The moon is only reflecting the sun's light."
     She stood, and closed the shutters. "Charlotte," she said, "please pass the candle and match." When she did, Evangeline placed it in the middle. "This candle is not being very useful, is it?" she said with a laugh. The girls were quiet. After a moment, one little girl broke the silence, stating the obvious answer. "Well, that's because you didn't light it!" she said.

photo from Unsplash

    "Yes, Merry," Evangeline said gently. "It cannot light up the room for us by itself. It needs the fire." She struck the match, and lit the candle. "Now the candle is shining brightly, and the room is not as dark.
     The girls listened intently. "Just as the moon needs the sun to light up the night sky, and the candle needs the fire to light up the room, we need God to spread light into the world.
     "But how can we shine God's light," she continued, "if we never spend time with God?" she looked around at the girls. No one answered.  "We cannot." she told them. "Have you ever seen a lunar eclipse?"
     "I remember seeing an eclipse before!" Merry exclaimed. "We were looking out the window, and the moon disappeared!"
     "Yes, Merry," Evangeline agreed. "During a lunar eclipse, it looks like the moon is disappearing. It's really still there, it's just not lit up, because the sun's light is not shining on it. Without the sun, the moon cannot light up the night sky. We need to spend time with God, so that we can shine His light in the world.

Fixing up the Attic

December 16, 1932    

     Dear Diary,

     You won't believe the transformation this old attic's gone through! Yes, it was an exhausting day, but oh, so worth it.

     Yesterday afternoon, when I first climbed up that dark, narrow staircase to peek into my future living corners, I'll admit, I was quite dismayed. As soon as I stepped foot up here I started coughing; I could barely breathe. The air was so musty; it smelled like rotten animals. I could see dust floating through the air, and there was layer of dirt covering everything. Even the floorboards looked awful, lying loosely on the ground. There was some dingy furniture lying about, but I could hardly tell whether they were useable or not for the thick layer of residue coating them.

     Suddenly though, I noticed something beautiful. Streaming through a crack in a broken shutter, I saw light pouring in. Yes, it was only a little, but somehow, that light gave me hope. The part of the floor, wall, and beams that were in the ray's path had a sort of beauty to them. I wanted to see what the attic would look like if the whole thing was covered in that light.

     Looking around, I noticed that there were actually six such windows. Quickly I went to each one, unlocking the wooden shutters and pushing them open. As I went through the room, opening each one, more and more light rushed in, filling every nook and cranny of this once dark attic. When I was finished, I went over to the doorway and once again stood looking in. Now I saw a worn, but beautiful attic, holding all sorts of stories in the cracks between the floorboards, the holes in the walls, and the furniture, lying unused for years and years, maybe decades. Somehow, this peaceful scene reminded me of the tranquil beauty of an old woman. Like her, this attic had seen many years go by, many people, many times. I reveled in that thought, but only for a second, for I was eager to get started restoring it. 
     I went and found Mrs. McGrady and asked if she had any cleaning supplies I could use. I was thrilled when she led me to a closet filled with all the brooms, mops, rags, and soap you could ask for! "When we first opened up, so many kind people donated supplies like these," Mrs. McGrady gratefully exclaimed. I started grabbing up a pile of supplies I thought I could use, and was on my way to the attic when I noticed a bunch of the girls watching me.
     "Are you planning to clean that big ol' attic by yerself?" sweet Katie asked, her eyes full of wonder. 
     "Well," I began slowly, "It sure would take a while, wouldn't it?" Though I hated the thought of being a burden to them, I knew I certainly could use some extra hands. Not only that, but I thought it would be a great opportunity to get to know the girls better. "Would any of you like to help?" I asked.
     "Me!" "Me!" came shouts from various girls, and soon I was once again making my way to the attic, only this time with twenty girls behind me! I was surprised at their eagerness! Even Charity, the oldest girl, came along to join in on the fun. I had heard from Mrs. McGrady that although she had come of age, they had told her she could stay here for as long as she wanted. 
     Passing the cleaning supplies around, we quickly got to work. Some of the girls began dusting the furniture, some sweeping the floor, and some wiping the walls with soapy rags. I could tell most of them had had a lot of experience cleaning, for they moved quickly and thoroughly around the room. Or, most of them did. One girl, who said her name is "Isabella Margarita", stood in the middle of the room. "It smells in here," she would say, or, "It's ever-so chilly." I really don't know why she even bothered to come up here, but I suppose that's none of my concern. My job is to show love to all the girls, no matter what they're like. 
     By evening, the attic was squeaky clean! Together, we began moving the furniture around till it looked rather cozy. There was a dresser in one corner, which, although missing a few of the drawer handles, still worked rather well. Then there was a little table which I set an oil lamp on, along with a pitcher and basin we found in a chest on the far side. Oh yes, the chest! We found a chest covered with cobwebs, which had a few interesting little knick-knacks in it. Once cleaned, that too looked rather nice. Lastly, Mr. McGrady carried up the cot I had slept on the night before, and I spread my colorful patchwork quilt on it which I had brought from India.
     How thankful I am! It looks so nice in here, with the moonlight streaming in and everything so clean! Sitting on my quilt and holding my dear journal makes me feel like I'm back home again. 

     Did you enjoy reading about my day? Do any of you keep a diary? How do you like my new header? I'd love to hear from you!

-Evangeline

Dear Diary, I'm finally here...

December 14th, 1932

  Dear Diary,

  I'm finally here. India, my home, is over 8,000 miles away. Everyone I know is across the Coloradan mountains, over the endless Pacific, and on the other side of the enormous country of China. 

  I arrived at the Bluebridge Home for Girls last night. Mr. and Mrs. McGrady, the orphanage keepers, seem friendly. They said I could stay and help with some of the cleaning and cooking. I hope to do more than that though.

  The girls are all darling. I hope I can get acquainted with each and every one of them during my time here. After all, each of them has their own story. Some of them are even from the Salem Orphange...

  I don't know how long my time here is, so I hope to get started as soon as I can. After all, if I can be called to go to Colorado as suddenly as I was, I'm sure I can be called away just as fast. Truly, no one can understand God's ways. 

  I wonder how Mama Sarah and Papa Robert are doing. I wrote to them when I first landed in America, but I really ought to write again, to let them know my address. Oh, how I miss them! Last night as I lay in bed, I recalled the morning I left India. They and several other families from the mission house had accompanied me to the train station, and as we waited for the train to pull away, they sang from the sidewalk, "God Be With You Till We Meet Again." That song is one of the most beautiful and touching songs I can think of. It was so special to have them all waving as the train pulled out of the station and slowly chugged away. I waved until they were long out of sight, my eyes watering as I thought of the many months it would most likely be until I saw them again. 

  Well, the sun is dawning over the horizon, and I want to go see what I can help Mrs. McGrady with. I hope I can be a blessing to her, rather than a burden. I know I'll be another mouth to feed, but hopefully I can work enough to make up for that.

  I'll be sure to write in here again soon!

 -Evangeline

Chapter 2 | A Glimpse Into the Past

 Nestled in the small town of Bluebridge, Colorado, you will see a large, brick building. Once used as a small inn, this building was transformed into an orphanage three years before.

  The Bluebridge Orphanage for Girls was not like most orphanages. Instead, they treated the girls as if they were their own. Mr. and Mrs. McGrady were never able to have children of their own, so they became kind of like parents to the girls at the orphanage.

Here is the building before being fixed up and turned into the orphanage.

  They could not afford much, for the taxes they received from the government were very little, but they always survived. Sometimes a visitor would bring food, exactly when they needed it. And the building had a huge fireplace in the middle of the great room, which they were so fortunate to have. How many nights had they sat around the fire to keep warm? How many meals had they cooked by the large fire? How cozy it was, though it was dark and cold in the rest of the building, to sit by the warm fire on a cold winter's night!

  This night found them again, settled around the fire, old Mr. and Mrs. McGrady in their rockers, rocking to and fro. Twenty-six orphans, settled around on the floor. And there, on the other side of the fire from the rest, sat a young woman of twenty two. The room was filled the chatters and cries of the girls, but she did not hear a thing, for she was deep in thought. She sat, remembering her own past, a past not unlike most of the girls here. Some of the girls had been sent right to this orphanage, while others had been transferred from one orphanage to another. Five of the older girls had been transferred here two years ago, she had learned, when the Salem Orphanage could not afford to feed them. The Salem Orphanage. How she hated to think of that awful place. 

  "Get back to your floor missy! Scat! On with ya now!" a harsh lady cried as the four-and-a-half year old girl bent down and kissed the baby girl one last time. "Van Van" the baby cried, as the lady pulled the little girl out into the hall. "I told you to stay off of this floor. Stay where ya belong!" And with that she let go with a jerk, causing her to fall to the floor. She stood up, wiped herself off, and ran to the top floor, where she sat on her bed and cried.

    Suddenly Evangeline was taken from her thoughts at the sound of a loud bang. Seeing it was nothing serious, she opened her bag, took out the notebook, and began to take some notes. Tomorrow morning, she decided, she would ask about the class. 

  She really wanted to teach the girls a class. When she was a girl, a kind lady had taken her once a week, and taught her all sorts of things. She had called the class, "A Greater Purpose." It wasn't a big thing, just Evangeline, and the lady. She taught her about Jesus, and how with Him, we have hope. She told her how if we submit to God's will, we will live a life of purpose, accomplishing things that are worthwhile. Her whole life, Evangeline had dreamed of someday teaching other girls, helping other girls to learn about God, and about how there is hope for the future. When God had called her here, to this small orphanage, it seemed like the perfect opportunity. All these girls, girls who had lost their whole families, girls who had been moved from place to place, how wonderful it would be to tell them, there is hope!

  The girls had probably learned about the Jesus some, from the McGradys. "But if we had a class," Evangeline thought to herself, "every week, imagine how much more they could learn, how much they could grow spiritually. Imagine how much it could impact their lives. That class made such a big impact in my life. I want to do the same for others."

  The next morning when Evangeline asked Mr. and Mrs. McGrady about the class, they were thrilled with the idea. "I'll even bake some of my pumpkin muffins!" Mrs. McGrady said with a jolly chuckle. "And you can use the attic, if you'd like,"  Mr. McGrady added. "I'm sure the girls would love to help you fix it up."

  And so it was decided. Each Saturday, Evangeline and the girls, except a few of the youngest who Mrs. McGrady would watch, would have a class in the attic.

Chapter 1 | A Knock at the Door

 It was the year 1932. The girls at the Bluebridge Orphanage huddled around the fireplace in the main hall. It was mid-December, and winter had fully arrived to the little Colorado town. 

   The Bluebridge Orphanage for Girls had been started three years before, when God had called Mr. and Mrs. McGrady to help orphans in nearby areas. They had found an old abandoned building for a low price, and the kind folks from their church had helped to fix up the building, paint and clean it, and even donate furniture they didn't need. God's hand had been a part of the whole process.

   Sometimes they would be low on food, or could not afford to pay for electric, but God always provided. They were now up to 26 girls, ranging from six months, to eighteen years. The McGrady's were kind-hearted people, and had let the oldest girl, Charity, stay, even after she came of age.

   This particular evening they sat around the large fireplace, old Mr McGrady, with six year-old Rosa on his lap; wrinkled Mrs. McGrady, rocking wee little Beth, the youngest, and all of the others, settled around on the floor. The fire was the only way to keep warm, since they couldn't afford to pay the electric at this time. But it was cozy, and they were content. 

   Suddenly, a knock sounded at the front door. Charity went to see who it was, but when she opened the door, she could not see well, for the night air was foggy and dark. After a moment, her eyes made out a dark figure.

   "Come in," she beckoned, holding open the door. When they came in to the light, Charity realized it was a young woman, probably in her early twenties. "May I help you?" she asked.

   "I'm looking for a Mr. and Mrs. McGrady. Are they here?" The woman questioned. "Yes, right this way," Charity answered as she led her down the hall.

   When there, the woman nodded to the them both, and began. "My name is Evangeline. I come from the Calcutta Missionary Organization, in India. In mid-July, I had a vision. I saw your orphanage. There was an angel in my vision, an he said that God wanted me to come here." she paused."Back at the mission, I cleaned, cooked, and taught the children that lived there. For some reason, God has called me here. If you will let me stay, perhaps these services could be of use to you."

   There was a moment of silence, as the McGradys took in the information. "You came all the way from India alone?" Mrs. McGrady asked in wonder.

   "No, not alone. God was with me each step of the way." the woman replied. After another moment, Mr. McGrady said that they had a cot that no-one used, and then left to get it out.

   The children began to crowd around Evangeline, excitedly asking her various questions. "How far away is India?" "Why don't you look Indian?" "What is it like in India?"  "Now, now," Mrs. McGrady told them. "Not tonight. I'm sure she is tired, and you all are too. Off to bed, there will be plenty of time in the morning," and with that the children filed down the hall.

   "I'm sure you must be tired," Mrs. McGrady said. "We don't have a proper room for you, but for tonight Mr. McGrady has set up the cot in the hall. Hopefully that is alright."

   "That would be more than alright," Evangeline answered with a smile. 

   The next morning during breakfast, the McGradys told Evangeline that they decided to let her stay. The Lord must have a reason for sending her there, and they certainly did not want to send her away. "We could use your help tending to the younger children, while the older ones do their school and chores," Mrs. McGrady told her. "And I'm sure they'd love to hear about some of the things you did in India," she added. 

   And so it was decided that Evangeline would stay. Not only would she tend to the children-she also had another plan. It wasn't completely formed yet. She needed to decide some things, and make some plans. But she couldn't wait to surprise the children.

   Little did she know, there was more than one surprise in their midst...