By RTF Staff Writer Kalli Simmerman

“We’ll no longer be needing you.” When I read that email, my stomach just clenched. Only a few days before I had been informed that I was being let go from my other job due to budget cuts in the school. Now, within a matter of two days, I was completely unemployed. (more…)

Happy Retro Day!! To go with our current them of “back to school”, we decided to re-post this great story from Halee about her hilarious high school debacle. Enjoy!

By RTF Editor Halee Matthews

It was a rite of passage – a mean, painful initiation. Nearly every person at my high school suffered through it at some point… except me. I managed to dodge it until the end of my junior year, when it found me in the place where the stairs lie in wait for their next victim. (more…)

By RTF Editor Abbie Miller

{I say “perfectionista” to make it sound cooler somehow… like “fashionista” or “barista”. Is it working??}

I’m one of those freaks.

You may have see me having an excitement-induced seizure in the school supplies aisle of Target.

I’ve been spotted skulking around in sweaters and jeans despite the 87 degree weather.

And that unfortunate-looking girl straggling down the sidewalk attempting to sip a pumpkin spice latte while carrying a 50-ton book bag? Well. That might have been me. (more…)

Halee: Once upon a time, there were some slightly crazy editors. Okay, fine. There were some definitely crazy editors. And in the spirit of collaboration and fun, they decided to gather and create some collective craziness.

(Okay, 3 look crazy and 1 just looks scared…) (more…)

By Staff Writer Jennifer Grimes

The word change brings a lot of random thoughts to my mind. The change I have in my wallet, for instance.

I don’t care much about it.

I rarely use change unless I’m getting something out of a vending machine, which is next to never. I usually pay with some crisp bills and then dump whatever the cashier hands back into my already accumulated abyss of change. When my wallet gets full, I collect change on my desk or bookshelf in a metal bucket. (more…)

By RTF Staff Writer Stephany Mendia

If Change and I we were in a relationship, my Facebook status would be “complicated”. Isn’t that how it is for everyone? And the funny thing with God is, the closer our relationship with Him is, the more change He seems to throw our way. (more…)

by Staff Writer Graceland King

The voices rose, bounced off the walls and snuck their way in through the door to my room, waking me from my sleep. I was rubbing the drowsiness from my eyes when I heard my mother’s yelling voice. I sighed heavily. What could it be this time?

I stealthily crept out of my room and down the hall to where the argument resonated. Making sure to pause every now and then whenever a creak in the floor boards sounded underneath my feet, I finally made it close enough to see my mother standing in front of her brother who sat on the bottom of the stairs. (more…)

Happy Retro Day! In the spirit of summer, I decided to recycle a past devo for your reading pleasure. Enjoy! ~ Halee

by Assistant Editor Halee Matthews

Let’s pretend you’re barely past your teens, dedicated to your family, and a hard-worker. You’ve been working on your father’s farm since childhood. You have one younger brother who can be a pain, but, well, he’s your brother.

One day, that brother decides he’s had enough of hard work. He hits your dad up for money and takes off. So you step up. You do extra chores and work harder to make up for your brother’s absence. It’s tough but you’re dedicated to making sure the farm runs well.

After a hard day of work in the field, you return to the house to find a party. You find out that your brother has returned so your dad decided to celebrate.

The news throws you for a loop. A party… for what? For running away and leaving you with extra work? For wasting his money and coming home only because he was starving? (more…)