Rylyn Delson's life has been pretty predictable for the past eight years after her mother's death. She's gotten used to her dad being "clingy". But when life takes a turn for the unexpected, Rylyn has to face the reality of the world alone, with no one who understands. God understands, doesn't He? What good is He planning to come out of this anyway? Meanwhile David Ark and his wife, Mirissa, are just a Christian couple adjusting to their new lives in the town of Riverside. Getting to know the teens firsthand as a Youth Minister, he discovers the shy, only child girl with a hard past. Soon after gravitating toward her, tragedy strikes her hard. When they take her in, both of them go through hard times themselves. But God's ways are higher than our's, right? Told from the two perspectives that resemble a father-daughter relationship, they not only discover hidden truths of the struggles but also try to learn to take on unwavering faith. {Started: September 2014 Finished: February 2015} (Picture credit to legit-faith.com)

Abandoned and betrayed are emotions Chelsea would come to feel very early on in life; first as an eight-year old and later on as a young bride and mother. What have I done wrong? Why am I being punished? Why has my God forsaken me? During these tumultuous times she would retreat and spend quiet time with God; longing to hear His voice, find answers and guidance. But He remained silent... Yet, she would prevail. She felt lost and without purpose, until one day when she heard Him whisper: Wait on Me... And so she did. It was then that God would guide her, step-by-step into His wonderful plan for her life.

This is my ten-form poetry submission to the first annual ATTYS competition. All ten poems are related to the process of coming to terms with different life situations: a miscarriage, the death of a loved one in the Vietnam war; a political abduction; the ex-pat life; a battered wife; betrayal; Alzheimer's Disease; drought; isolation; a mother/daughter relationship. Thank you for reading my submission. I hope these poems "speak" to you! I invite you to visit my poetry blog, The Wonderful Boat, at www.cathychandler.blogspot.com Cover photo, "Transitions", by Catherine Chandler Catherine Chandler

Theodicy is a philosophy which examines God's apparent silence during times of human need. I wrote this piece as if God had returned to Earth and no one even noticed. The first time he said anything, I was slightly amused and wrote it all down on a gum wrapper. (Wrapper's gone now.)