Nine Ladies Dancing (Day 9 of the 12DoC link-up): The Bookish Tag (Christmas Version)

Today I'm bringing you a bookish tag (because books + Christmas = awesomeness) as my fifth post in the 12 Days of Christmas link-up. 
Could we take a moment to FREAK OUT TOGETHER BECAUSE HOW IS IT THREE DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS LIKE WHAAAAAAT??!!!? 

*takes several calming breaths* 
Ok. Ok. I think I can do this now that I've taken a moment to let it go. *wicked grin* (You're welcome) 

Since this tag is LOOOOONG overdue, I can't even remember who tagged me in the first place. *face palm* So if YOU remember it was YOU, let me know in the comments so I can thank you properly! >_< 
Anyways, this tag (originally called The Bookish Tag) was tweaked slightly by me in order to go with the Christmas theme. For those if you wanting to do it in the original form, just omit the word *Christmas* from the questions, and it should be back to normal. :) 
Hope you enjoy the questions and answers about some of my favorite (and not so favorite) Christmas reads on this, the ninth day of Christmas! ^_^

The Bookish Tag Rules:
-You must be honest.
-You must answer every question.
-You must tag at least 4 people. 


1 ~ What Christmas book has been on your shelf the longest?
I only just started building my own bookshelf (big family issues...not a lot of room in our house for each personal library etc.) so unless we're allowed to count the biblical story, I would say "The Tailor of Gloucester" by Beatrix Potter has been on my shelf the longest since I got the collection when I was twelve. That was back when I stored my books in a drawer (horrors!)

2 ~ What is your current Christmas read, your last Christmas read, and the Christmas book you'll read next? 
Currently reading "Red Boots" by Kate Willis, my last Christmas read was "The Legend of the Candy Cane", and my next Christmas read will probably be either "Christmas with Anne", "Star of Light", or "Little Women". (And yes, I count "Little Women" as a Christmas story. DO NOT QUESTION.)

3 ~ What Christmas book did everyone like, but you hated?
I wasn't overly impressed with "Treasures of the Snow" when I first read it as a ten-year-old, but after waiting a couple years I re-read it and it wasn't as bad. Still not my favorite, though, so I'll go with that one. 

4 ~ What Christmas book do you keep telling yourself you'll read, but you probably won't? 
There aren't any that come to mind. I probably forgot about them in a convenient way if I had any. ;) 

5 ~ What Christmas book are you saving for retirement?  
None. XD I don't think that far ahead. I probably should... but I don't.

6 ~ Last page: read it first, or wait 'til the end?
As a general rule, I wait until the end. (The only time I didn't do this was for The Return of the King, book 3 in the LOTR series because I HAD to find out if Samwise made it to the end. I just HAD to.)

7 ~ Acknowledgement: waste of paper and ink, or interesting aside? 
Personally, I think it's up to the author. After all, readers can read it or not and they might as well have it in there so those they want to acknowledge can feel special and appreciated. As an author myself, I include the acknowledgement to show gratitude to the people who played a part in my book that made it come into being. So I guess I fall under the "interesting aside" category. ;)

8 ~ Which Christmas book character would you switch places with? 
If "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" counts as a Christmas book, I would totally switch with Lucy. *heart eyes* 

9 ~ Do you have a Christmas book that reminds you of something specific in your life? (Place, time, person?) 
No...not really. Man, I hope this tag doesn't end up being as boring as I'm afraid it will. Apparently I need to branch out in my Christmas reading. *shakes head*

10 ~ Name a Christmas book that you acquired in an interesting way. 
I was given a Christmas book as a Christmas gift through the mail once... I think that's about as interesting as my Christmas book life gets. Sorry guys. XD It was "The Old Mansion's Secret" by Rebekah Morris. 

11 ~ Have you ever given a Christmas book away for a special reason to a special person?
No, but I have been given a Christmas book before... not a bad gift idea. *mentally adds this to future Christmas gift ideas list*

12 ~ Which Christmas book has been with you most places?
The Bible. Duh. XD 

13 ~ Any "required Christmas reading" you hated in high school that wasn't so bad later?
I guess "A Christmas Carol" is the best Christmas book I would say falls in this category. It took me a couple years to wrap my mind around Dicken's writing...but now that I have, he has become one of my favorite classic authors. :)

14 ~ Used or brand new?
Depends on the book, and depends on how much it costs and what condition they are in. I like the way new books look on my shelf, but being a cheapskate, used books are the cheaper option most of the time and therefore the option I go with. I like used book stores WAY better than new book stores, though.

15 ~ Have you ever read a Dan Brown book?
Never ever even heard of him. (Sorry)

16 ~ Have you ever seen a Christmas movie you liked more than the book? 
Nope. Granted, I don't watch a lot of Christmas movies period, but the ones I HAVE seen that are based off of books I remember not liking any more than I liked the book.

17 ~ Have you ever read a Christmas book that's made you hungry, cookbooks included? 
Basically every. Little. House. In. The. Prairie. Book. Ever. Almost all of them have Christmas as a part of them, and every Christmas describes the food in mouth-watering detail.

18 ~ Who is the person whose Christmas book advice you'll always take? 
There's multiple people (relations or friends) that I go to for book advice. My Dad always has good book recommendations up his sleeves, and chances are he'll not only have recommendations, but also copies of aforementioned recommendations in his library. ;) 

19 ~ Is there a Christmas book out of your comfort zone (e.g., outside your usual reading genre) that you ended up loving? 
Not really. At least, not that I recall. Someone should write a sci-fi Christmas story, or a dystopian Christmas story. There aren't many of those out there...just saying. 


So...yeah. Hopefully that wasn't boring. Obviously I need to expand my CHRISTMAS TBR. Recommendations anyone? :P

That's all for now. I'll be back in a couple days with an introduction to what the Christmas season looks like (usually) for the Eddy family.

Until then, let everything you do be done for the glory of God! :)

12 Days of Christmas Blog Party (Day 1): Tag

Hey guys! I'm super excited to join 21 other bloggers in this awesome link-up my friend Faith P. from Stories by Firefly has been hosting for the last couple years. :) I can't wait to share some Christmas cheer in my own little corner of the blogosphere, and I hope you guys enjoy reading it. ;)  
Let's get started shall we?

Today, I'm going to be taking part in a special tag created just for this event! Special thanks to Faith for making this happen. I may have been at a loss for more Christmas post ideas and this may have saved my bacon. ;)

~ Rules ~

– Link back to the 12 Days of Christmas blog party or use the party graphic 

– Answer the 10 questions 

– Have fun!
 

~ The Questions (And the Answers) ~

1 ~ Christmas is the season of hope, joy, and light. What’s your favorite thing to make this season bright? 

 

Spending time with family and friends, from near and far, is the best way to brighten the holidays. With the tragedy the Simoa's went through still fresh on my mind, having all my siblings and cousins around me is even more precious. I don't know how much longer I have them with me here on earth and I plan to make the most of it every day. ^_^
 

2 ~ Reading of the Christmas story, lighting the tree – Which tradition is most special to you? 

 

I would say gift giving is my favorite tradition at Christmas. Not only is it an excuse to see your friends and family's faces light up when you give them the perfect thing, but also it serves as a beautiful picture of the greatest Gift: that baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and laying in a manger. 
 

3 ~ Festive old hymns or glorious new tunes – What are you listening to on repeat? 

 

Can I say both? Because I have a mix of old and new that I listen to as a mix with the family. I love the traditional hymns, but there are so many beautiful new songs written also that I will listen to as I fall asleep or go about daily chores. 
 

4 ~ Fiction and nonfiction, classics and contemporary – Which Christmas books do you love so much that you just have to re-read every year? 

I love the collection of stories in L. M. Montgomery's "Christmas with Anne". From the adventures of mischievous kids to the sweet romance of young couples, this collection has everything you need to lighten your heart on a snowy winter afternoon with eggnog, apple cider, or hot cocoa in hand. :) 
 

5 ~ Trees and nativities, bells and bows – Do you have a favorite Christmas decoration? 

I like Christmas trees, wreaths, and lights. :) So basically everything. XD 
 

6 ~ From the prophets to the gospels, the timeless story is woven. Which Bible passage that speaks of our Savior birth holds a special place in your heart? 

Luke chapter 2 is what our family always reads on Christmas morning, so that's my favorite version of the Christmas story. 
 

7 ~ Glittery snowflakes and shimmering balls to angels and one-of-a-kind creations. Do you have a favorite tree ornament? 

 

Our family each has our own ornaments, as well as some that the whole family owns. My personal favorite of the ornaments that I own is my "first Christmas" Ornament that is an adorable groundhog hugging a stocking. It's super cute! On a less personal level, I really like any sparkly or glittery ornaments, no matter what the shape. 

8 ~ Red and green, silver and gold, even purple and blue! What's your favorite color scheme this time of year? 

 

Blue and silver. :) I love how it can be classy or homey depending on how you use it to decorate. That also happens to be the color scheme our church used this year and I'm super happy with how festive it makes our sanctuary. :)

9 ~ Between the old and the new, the classics and the cartoons, which Christmas movie do you come back to year after year? 

 

"It's a Wonderful Life". Far and away my favorite Christmas film, this is a classic that NEVER gets old. ^_^ Pretty much every year our family watches it without fail, this year we watched it with our cousins. :) 

10 ~ Pies and cakes, cookies and sweets. What's your favorite Christmas treats?

 

I love gingerbread anything. Just the taste brings back so many memories of helping bake goodies at my grandma's house. :) Also butter dream cookies and frosted sugar cookies. Peppermint bark and fudge too. I'd better stop now before my list gets even more carried away. 

If this tag looks like something you want to do, go ahead and do it! It was a lot of fun to answer the questions, and it helps get you in the mood for the season. :)

Well, that's all for now, folks! Be sure to check out the many other awesome blog posts on this, the first day of Christmas! I'll be back day after tomorrow to share some of my favorite Christmas songs! :)

Until then, let everything you do be done for the glory of God!

Another Writing Tag!

Faith tagged me for this one! :) And, as with all writing/book related tags, I could hardly pass it up. So without further ado, I proudly present...

*dramatic music*

I know the actual title for this tag is "The Rising Author's Tag", but isn't this title so much more cool?? Copyrights to the "new and improved" version, go to my older sister Sarah. ;)

Da Rules:
>>Write a post thanking the person who tagged you; include the tag, the 11 questions asked, your answers, and in reply to the request of a small piece of poetry or writing, write a brief 150-word story.

>>At the end of the post, provide 11 new questions.

>>Request a brief 150-word story from the people you tagged.

>>Tag at least one person, and include a link to their blog.

Da Answers:
What's your favorite writing style? 

Good styles? Are those a thing? If not, it totally should be. Good writing is hard to find sometimes, but its worth it when you read books with it.
But other than that, I enjoy humor in books. As long as it's not overdone or rude.
 

Where do you usually sit to write? 

At the computer. Or on my laptop. Or in my journal (preferably propped up on my knees in bed for those last two).

If you write for long periods of time, does it bother your fingers/wrists/hands?

If I'm typing, I can pretty much write forever...but with an actual pencil (or pen) and paper, I can only write for about half an hour to forty-five minutes before my wrists' complaints become to unbearable. :(

Do you snack while you write? If so, what's your favorite snack?

I like to focus on my writing...so no. Unless there's chocolate or ice-cream available. Then ABSOLUTELY.

Are you published? If so, best publishing advice you've received? If not, do you want to be? 

I'm self-published, so I guess that doesn't really count. :P And yes, I would love to have a publishing company take my books and publish them to the waiting public. That would be awesome! :)

Writing/publishing wise, where do you see yourself in five years? Ten years? 

Oh goodness. *cough* Not to offend, but I really hate this question. ;) Why? Honestly, I'd love to be writing in heaven in five years because the Lord came back. But...if that doesn't happen, I would like my books to all be written and published, selling millions across the world while bringing glory to God, and be able to meet all you fantastic friends.

Do you listen to music while you write? 

Most of the time. Sometimes, if I'm writing a particularly difficult part of the story, or fighting writer's block, I won't. But if I'm just happily typing away, then yes.

What's your opinion of editing? 

Worst Enemy. Best Friend. It's a love/hate relationship. ;)

Do you enjoy research? 

When the mood occurs, yes. Sometimes it's just too much work. >.<

Do you fiddle with the font style and size of your works? 

ALL. THE. TIME. It's an addiction guys.
 

And lastly, what's your thoughts on writerly tags? B-) 

I love them!!! *gives all writerly tags a giant hug* But, you probably already gathered that from what I wrote at the beginning. ;)
 

150-word story-snippet request: Can I see a piece of your writing?

“You have got to be kidding me…” Jacob hissed to his friend in a barely audible whisper, cocking his gun. The click sounded deafening in the still air.

“Nope,” Jason replied grimly, cocking his own gun and trying to sound more hopeful about his plan than he really was. “Come on, buddy, where’s your sense of adventure?”

“Where is always is… but I would hardly call this an adventure. This is suicide! Robbing a well-known bank isn’t exactly what I would call smart.”

“Well, then, how come you’re helping me?”

“Because you’re my friend and we both need the money.”

“Right. So let’s get this done!”

The two boys slipped into the darkness of the bank after Jason picked the lock open. Both of them walked silently across the shadowed interior to where they both knew the safe was located. Jason had assured his friend that he had figured out the combination, but when they got there, he tried the code…several times…but it didn’t work.

Desperate now, Jason worked on the safe frantically while Jacob kept watch. Beads of perspiration appeared on their foreheads as time slipped by. Still, no luck.

“Let’s give up on it!” Jacob hissed. “I saw a shadow and I think it’s time to make ourselves invisible.”

“Right.” Jason sighed, trying to mask his obvious relief. “Come on!”

They both went over to the nearest window, but as Jacob worked on opening it, another gun cocked, but this one was behind them.

Slowly, the boys turned around to face the three police officers.

They were caught.

*********************************

I know that wasn't exactly 150 words...but y'all should know by now that it's well nigh impossible for me to write a story any shorter than that...especially one on short notice. :)

 

DA QUESTIONS:

How long have you been writing?

What made you decide to become an author?

Where do you find inspiration?

What's a favorite quote from a book/story you've written?

What's the title of the favorite story you've written?

Do you prefer writing in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd person?

Who's an author you tend to write like?

Do you write in short bursts fairly often, or several thousand words in one sitting but with larger breaks between sittings?

Have you ever had scenes (usually written late at night and discovered the next morning) when something happens in your story that you weren't expecting? If so, could you tell us what it was?

What's an odd writing quirk you have?

What's the weirdest thing you've researched for a story?

 

And...one last thing: Give us a peek into how you write by sharing either a 150 word story/poem or a snippet from one of your longer stories.

 

Da people I tag!:

Amanda @ Scattered Journal Pages

Hannah @ Ink Blots and Coffee Stains

Jonathan @ Fishing for Ideas

Abigayle @ The Left-handed Typist

Mary @ Sunshine and Scribblings

The Wisteria Writer Tag

Hey all! *waves excitedly* Guess what?

 

*pause for effect*

 

That's right! Today, ladies and gentlemen, I am bringing you a TAG. And, as is one of my goals for this month, I'm posting it WITHIN the month that I was tagged! *cue applause* A shout out to Eve Estelle for tagging me! Thanks Eve!

As expected, here are the rules:

 

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you.

2. Answer the ten questions asked.

3. Add ten (writing or book related) questions of your own.

4. Nominate ten people.

 

And here are her questions!

 

1. What current story or book are you working on?

Mostly, I'm working on "The Princess & I" since I'm doing Camp NaNo this month (Which has proved to be both challenging and hilariously awesome!) And since that book has the best planning behind it. I'm hoping (but don't get your hopes up too much) that with the added push from Camp NaNo, that I'll finish writing "The Princess & I" this month...but we'll have to see.

 

2. What is your favorite genre to write in?

I mostly write fantasy, so I suppose that's my favorite.  After all, your imagination is the only limit when it comes to fantasy. I really wish I could get better at writing historical fiction, because I really love reading that genre. I'm working on it... :)

 

3. Have you been published? If not, do you plan to be?

Yes! I've self-published my book "The Silver Flower" and I'm working on self-publishing another book by the end of this year! After that, hopefully more will soon follow and I'll become a famous author and win all sorts of medals and honors and...ok, so none of that will probably happen, but one can dream, right? Come on.

 

4. Which aspect of writing are you best at (mood, theme, plot, etc.)?

I can do mood. Usually. And themes are good. I'm horrible at good plots though. We're working on that. Hard. ;)

 

5. Which part could you improve upon most in your writing?

As I mentioned above ^^^ I'd like to improve my plot structure.

 

6. Do you prefer to write fiction or nonfiction?

Fiction. Although I love poetry and blogging which is all nonfiction. So I like both I guess. ;)

 

7. Do you remember the title of your very first work?

"The Adventures of Dan & Kathryn". Basically a story about two homeschooling siblings about my age at the time (which was seven/eight) that had all sorts of crazy adventures including getting kidnapped and lost in a forest.

 

8. Are you typically a planner or a pantser (a.k.a NOT a planner)?

Definitely a pantser. I'm TERRIBLE at planning out my books. Everything I write from the title to the plot twists are completely on the fly. "Alice & Alyssa" had a completely different ending "planned" but I changed it half-way through writing it. Just because I could. *cue evil laughter* You know, why not have your character end up breaking his leg? Why not have a character end up being evil when he's/she's thought to be good by everyone around them (including yourself)?

 

9. What is your definition of a "successful" writer?

A writer who can bring characters, plot, and setting into beautiful harmony to create a story that will keep their audience captive and help their readers grow and mature through reading. 

 

10. What would you say to someone wanting to be an author?

 Write. Just write. And read. A TON!!! Particularly the great classics of literature like the Bible, "Moby Dick", "Uncle Tom's Cabin", "The Chronicles of Narnia", "The Hobbit" & "The Lord of the Rings", "Anne of Green Gables" (the whole series preferably :), "Little Women", "Ben Hur", "The Scarlett Pimpernel", "Tom Sawyer" (& "Huckleberry Finn") etc..
And, you know what, don't give up when you realize your first story is terrible...because all authors (at least the ones I'VE read about) start out with horrible stories that don't make sense as a whole or where all the characters act the same why or are total clichés.
So write, read, and above all else...DON'T GIVE UP!!

And here are my questions: I may have stolen borrowed a few from Eve. Don't judge.

1. What was the title and basic plot of the first story you ever wrote?
2. Which of your characters would you say is the most like you?
3. Which of your villains is your favorite?
4. What first inspired you to write?
5. How many stories (short or long) have you actually COMPLETED?
6. Have you ever had a book keep you up all night (like past midnight...not literally ALL NIGHT)? If so, what was it's title?
7. Any top favorite book(s) you would like to share with your beloved followers?
8. Any words of wisdom from your experiences in writing? Please. We need to hear it. :)
9. Planner or panster (a.k.a NOT a planner) when it comes to writing?
10. What current story or book are you working on and what is it about?


And here is who I tag:

Emily from The Imaginary World of Emily McConnell
Jonathan from Fishing for Ideas
Abigayle from The Left-Handed Typist
Faith  from Stories by Firefly
Bethany from A Great God and Good Cocoa
Aiden from Story Forger
Amanda from Scattered Journal Pages
Hannah from Furious Ever Afters
Ellie from The Other Side of Reality
 

It's Show Time! (A Tag)

I know, I know...I'm REALLY late for this one. Rebekah tagged me last month, and I just now finally got around to doing it. My deepest apologies. ;)

The Rules:

>>Answer the questions

>>Tag 3 to 5 people

 

1.Who's your favorite actors?

Sean Astin better known as "Samwise" from LOTR. I also really liked him in "Mom's Night Out", though it was a little bit of a shock to see him in a different setting. ;)

Asa Butterfield from "Hugo" and "Ender's Game" (this movie is way better than the book btw).

2.Who's your favorite actresses?

Kate Winslet as Marianne Dashwood from "Sense and Sensibility".

Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth Bennet in "Pride and Prejudice".
 

3.What's your favorite animated movie?
Ooo...that's a tough one. Probably "Big Hero Six". But "Up", "Ice Age" (the first one), and "Wall-E" are a close three-way tie for second.
 

4. Do you like to have a snack while you watch a movie? If so, what's your favorite?
I'm going to make at least ONE person very happy when I say sour patch kids...(I think everyone knows who I'm talking about :P) but since those aren't on hand every time I usually don't have anything or settle on the second best which is usually ice cream or popcorn.
 

5.What's your favorite genre?
I like a wide variety, so I don't think it's possible to choose a favorite genre. That's like asking what my favorite genre of books to read are. :)
 

6.What's you're favorite TV shows?
Does Studio C count? If so, then definitely them and also the black and white Zorro TV show. Daniel Boone is pretty good too.
 

7.What's your top favorite movie?
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! YOU DID NOT JUST ASK THAT QUESTION!!!!! *runs around with hands in the air screaming hysterically*

*cricket noises*

I think I may have overreacted a little. My apologies.
Honestly, though, how do think I should react to a question like that?? I mean, my favorite movie changes like EVERY DAY. Well, not quite, but probably at least once a month.
CURRENTLY, my favorite movie is "The Giver". But that will probably change very soon. ;)
 

8.Are there any movies coming out soon you can't wait to see?
I don't really have my finger on the pulse of the current movie publications, but I've heard that a "How to Train Your Dragon 3" is coming out soonish...I've been disappointed in the past with sequels, so I can only hope that they don't ruin the characters. Also, there may or may not already be a "Kung Fu Panda 3" out. There's another one I'd like to eventually see...if it's worth seeing.
 

9.What's your favorite sport based movie?
Does fencing count as a sport? In that case, probably "Robin Hood" and the Zorro TV series.
If not, then definitely "Facing the Giants". That movie has been a family favorite FOREVER. Well, ever since we watched it. ;)
 

10.What was the last movie you watched in the theaters?
*whispers* I've never watched a movie in the theater before.
*in normal voice* Not that I would mind going to a theater and watching a good movie at some point, but our family usually just waits for whatever movie to come out on iTunes, then Dad and Mom will preview it and then us kids (all of us or sometimes just us older kids) will watch it if it's "parent approved".
Am I upset because my parents shelter our movie watching? ABSOLUTELY NOT. I'm SO glad they filter our movie watching, and it's something I hope to be able to do to help my future kids.

 

 

And now *drumroll* here are the five lucky persons who I tag!

 

Emily McConnell

Jesseca Dawn

Jonathan Trout

Joey Jordan  

Lydia Dyslin

 

 

Here's the questions in order to make it easier to copy and paste ;) :

 

1.Who's your favorite actor's?

2.Who's your favorite actress?

3.What's your favorite animated movie?

4. Do you like to have a snack while you watch a movie? If so, what's your favorite?

5.What's your favorite genre?

6.What's you're favorite TV shows?

7.What's your top favorite movie?

8.Are there any movies coming out soon you can't wait to see?

9.What's your favorite sport based movie?

10.What was the last movie you watched in the theaters?

Favorite Things Tag

I know what you're thinking... "WHAT?!?!?! Another tag??? When will the torture stop??!" Ok, so maybe not those exact words...but I bet I'm close. ;)

However, not to boast, I think you're going to enjoy this one. ^_^ After all, you get to see ten of my favorite things, and then tell me which of my favorite things are also some of your favorite things! It's going to be FUN.
(I thought I should probably mention that God and family are not on my list of favorite things only because I knew that they were the obvious first answers...so yes, they are favorite things, but I'm not putting them in the list. On purpose.)

Now, this wasn't really a rule *shock* But I'm going to thank the person who tagged me anyway...because I'm just that nice. ;) Thanks Faith! :D (You know how much I love tags. :)

 

The Rules:

>>Write down ten of your favorite things. 

>>Tag at least three others!

 

Here's the list:

1: Friends

You guys are just so awesome. *gives giant hug* Seriously, what would life be without you there to give hugs and encouragement when I'm feeling down. :) I can't begin to name all of you wonderful people who help me through all the tough things life hands out. But...you know who you are. ^_^ 

2: Books

What can I say? They're awesome. Books are a HUGE part of my life. Every day I'm either readin' 'em or writin' 'em. Besides which, they're awesome. A day isn't complete without having read anything or written anything. And have I mentioned how awesome they are??

 



3: Music

 

Ranked up there with books, I don't think I could live without music. Not only is it a great  way to send one off to dreamland, but also it eases the monotony of math equations and science modules if you can listen to it while solving the problems of the universe. Granted, I don't enjoy listening to ALL music, but I enjoy a large variety. I'd give you a list of my favorite artists, but knowing me, that could take a whole blog post just by itself....or maybe a whole page up at the top. Which I might consider at some point, but not right now. ;)

 



4: Good movies

Here's another place I could go on and on with a whole list of favorites within the favorite thing. But I will refrain from doing so, mostly because my favorite movies are ALL good movies in my opinion...and my favorite list changes every time I watch more movies. :) So, yeah. Enough said there.

 



5: Awesome quotes

A few for your enjoyment from my stash of favorites: (I took out the ones that I used in the quote tag, but those are also favorites)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



6: Jean skirts

 

Because which homeschooled girl DOESN'T like jean skirts?? ;) Ok, if you don't like jean skirts and you're a homeschooled girl, don't answer that question because I most certainly WILL might judge you.

 



7: Cool summer evenings

Those nights when you've been spending most of the day busily doing nothing in particular, and finally have some time to yourself outside swatting mosquitoes watching a gorgeous sunset behind trees and getting inspired to write another chapter in your book. And you wonder why I like summer best of all the seasons? Well, now you know. It's because there isn't any school during those three wonderful months. Oh, and my birthday happens. That's always a plus. ;)



8: Flip-flops

 

Summer = flip-flop wearing days = YES PLEASE!!!!!!

Trip to the beach = excuse to wear flip-flops

"I'll use them to throw on during an emergency" = excuse I give my mom so I can keep my flip-flops close to me during fall and winter

I love my flip-flops. ^_^

 

9: Ice-cream

 

What's not to like? Ice cream is probably my favorite dessert. But it's a hard choice, and will probably change several times. However, ice cream is definitely up there in my top ten favorite things...so yeah. Who doesn't like ice cream? (Again, I wouldn't recommend disagreeing with me on this one because I will most definitely might judge you.)

 



10: Blogging

 And last, but certainly not least, I love blogging. It's not only a fun way to connect with people who you wouldn't know otherwise...but a wonderful way to reach out to others and encourage them either (in my case) with writing, or letting people know that they aren't the only ones who struggle with life.
And besides, all of you guys make my day any time I read your blog posts or see you comment on my blog posts. It's just fun. :)

To conclude this post, I'll give you who I tag and then haunt my blog until someone comments. B-)

Here's who I tag:
Bethany from A Great God and Good Cocoa
Jonathan from Fishing for Ideas
Jesseca from Whimsical Writings
Addyson from I Am Addyson
 

A Quote Tag: Part Three

THE FINAL DAY!!! *dramatic music plays* My final quote(s) and the final three people to be stricken with this terrible tag disease. (It's contagious, I tell you!) Again, I'm going to skip on the rules, but if you need them to copy and paste to your blog post (you know who you are B-) then go back two days to the first day of this quote tag thingy. :)

And now, here's my quote:

This. Is. SO. True. As I grow older, I find it getting more true. :) Any one else with me on this one?? This is meaningful to me on two levels. The first, obviously the one intended here: best friends help you make memories worth writing about. However, on a whole new level, since I'm also an author, it means my editors have become my best friends. If they weren't already. And that's also true.

And, since I HAD to keep up the tradition of two quotes for this tag, here's the second one:

In honor of reading "The Hobbit" last month, I put in one of my favorite quotes from that book. Also because I just realized I probably should have put in my favorite quote as part of the review. Whoops. I've often found myself in a circumstance like this (especially in writing) when I know I can't go back and try to fix anything yet because I'll just end up making more mistakes, and I can't try sidestepping the problem either...so I end up just having to forge on ahead and worry about the problem later. By then my mind is cleared a little and I can take care of whatever the problem was just fine...with help from editors. (Thanks! :)

 

Here's who I tag:

Rebekah Ashleigh from her blog

Twenty Cappacinos and a Cat from Slightly Decaffinated Ramblings about Stupid People

Madison from Once Lost, Now Found

 

Ahhh.... this was fun. I may post more fun quotes on here periodically, but for now, I'll conclude this post and go haunt your blog until you do YOUR quote tag posts. (You know who you are)

A Quote Tag: Part Two

I'm going to go ahead and assume that you already saw the rules yesterday, so I won't bother putting them down again. If you need them, see the previous post. ;)

Here's my quote:

Dr. Suess had some amazingly inspired moments beyond writing children's literature. :) I can't wait to find my Someone Whose Weirdness is Compatible with My Own. :D This (^^^) is my second favorite "gushy" quote.
Here's my first one, just for good measure and because I find it very hard to follow blog tag rules.

This is something we all need to work on: be so close to God that a future spouse has to learn more about Him before being able to know you.

Here's who I tag today!:
Bethany from A Great God and Good Cocoa
Faith P. from Stories by Firefly!
Emily McConnell from The Imaginary Life of Emily McConnell

Have fun! And come back tomorrow for the final quote(s) and three people I'm tagging! *drum roll*

And now I leave you in suspense. ;P

A Quote Tag: Part One

Probably you have all seen this tag on other blogs, but this is the first time I've done it, and it looked fun. So I decided to give it a try. :) A huge thank you to Abigayle! (You guessed it, this is the first rule. ;)

And now for the rest of the rules (after you thank me ;):
>>Nominate 3 new bloggers everyday
>>Post a new quote everyday for 3 consecutive days

Here's my quote:

I chose this quote mostly because it's kind of how I want to look at life. Like it says in Philippians 4:8, we Christian's should focus on the positive, godly aspect of life...and therefore not obsess over all the negative things that so easily come to mind when we're going through hardships.
Some of us, (like me), have an easier time being mostly positive, but even we have "bad days". Everyone does. Unfortunately.
I gave this quote my own twist, but since it wasn't entirely original, I stuck the original above...but here's mine:

This is something we really need to keep in mind as we go about our happy, Christian lives. Actually, we had a guest speaker at our church this last Sunday whose name was Joel Beeke (Dad got a day off! :) and he talked about how usually God chooses to help our faith grow through three things: apparent silence, apparent rejection, and apparent insult. Like going through a long tunnel helps us appreciate light more, so troubles help us appreciate God's grace when He answers our prayers in such unexpected ways. Jesus saved us from having to actually have God be silent towards us, and reject us, and insult us, by taking all that on Himself when He died on that cross. Nothing, I repeat NOTHING, that we experience on life is ANYTHING like what Jesus expericend on the cross. We can only stand in awe of His everlasting love that was willing to go through that for us.

Ok, sermon over. ;) I'm sorry, being a pastor's kid means you tend to go on and on about things you feel strongly about. It's in your blood. :)

Annnnd here's who I tag!:
Sarah Eddy from A Well Cultivated Mind
Jonathan Trout from Fishing for Ideas
Jesseca from A Kansas Wind

Have fun! And come back tomorrow to find out what quote, and who I'm tagging, in part two! ;)