Borrowing Photographs About me elsewhere Lovelies Goldberry Artisans

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

But for now






Sometimes, I try my hand at spinning yarn and knitting sweaters.

Oh, the joys of February vacation. And the sorrow when it is over.

But for now, I'll just wear my sweater, read good books, drink tea, and make it through the rest of the school year. 

Monday, February 24, 2014

Delight 365 // days 50-54

Welcome to my new followers! I'm so very glad you are here. I am participating in Delight's 365 photo challenge. I try to post my photos every week.

Day 50

A sweet package from Miss Hannah B.

"'What day is it?' asked Winnie the Pooh.
'It's today,' squeaked Piglet.
'My favorite day,' said Pooh."


Day 51

"Sometimes I wonder about my life. I lead a small life - well, valuable, but small - and sometimes I wonder, do I do it because I like it, or because I haven't been brave? So much of what I see reminds me of something I read in a book, when shouldn't it be the other way around? I don't really want an answer. I just want to send this cosmic question out into the void. So goodnight, dear void."
Kathleen Kelly in You've Got Mail


Day 52

"Why do bad things happen to good people? That only happened once, and He volunteered."
R.C. Sproul, Jr.


Day 53

"Sometimes your heart speaks best through your hands."
The Knit Cafe


Day 54

"God made a whole beautiful earth and decided to put you in it, to experience all of this beauty. You can't do that watching the television all the time."
Donald Miller


Thursday, February 20, 2014

Delight 365 // days 41-49

Day 41

"The beauty of winter is that it makes you appreciate spring."
The Story Girl by L.M. Montgomery


Day 42

"Life was delightful, growing richer every hour, like an unfolding rose."
Emily of New Moon of L.M. Montgomery



Day 43

"Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength."
Corrie ten Boom


Day 44

"Let us come alive to the splendor that is all around us, and see the beauty in ordinary things."
Thomas Merton


Day 45

"The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved; loved for ourselves - say rather, loved in spite of ourselves."
Les Miserables


Day 46

"All men make mistakes, but only wise men learn from their mistakes."
Winston Churchill


Day 47

"Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles!
Laud Him, all you peoples!
For His merciful kindness is great toward us,
And the truth of the LORD endures forever."
Psalm 117:1-2


Day 48

But the LORD said to me, "Do not say 'I am a youth', for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you," says the LORD.
Jeremiah 1:7-8


Day 49

For thus says the LORD God: "Indeed, I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out."
Ezekiel 34:11



Lately, I've been enjoying my school vacation which is full of baking, knitting. The Book Thief, and Pride and Prejudice. What have you been enjoying lately?

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Literary Heroine Blog Party




I am participating in Miss Kellie's annual Literary Heroine Blog Party. I encourage you all to visit her blog and participate! There's also a giveaway going on. On this snowy winter's day, I am typing this while watching Pride and Prejudice, so my answers may be influenced by it. *smile*

1. Introduce yourself! Divulge your life's vision, likes, dislikes, aspirations, or something completely random!

My life's vision? Well, it is to do all things for God's glory. That doesn't always happen, but it is what my life is all about.
Right now, I am an 18-year-old high school senior planning on going to college for accounting and hoping to get my CPA certification afterwards. I live with my parents and eight siblings in Maine (which is quite snowy around this time of year which is wonderful). I love knitting (currently making things for my new Etsy shop), reading, watching Jane Austen movies, baking muffins, wearing toe socks, and drinking tea.

2. What, to you, forms the essence of a true heroine?

Well, a heroine should first of all be loyal to her beliefs, her family, and her friends. She must be kind, brave, honest, and witty.

3. Share (up to) four heroines of literature that you most admire and relate to.

Only four? Well then, here it goes (these are in no particular order as I am awful at choosing a favorite anything).
I admire Anne Elliot's perseverance, dedication to her family, and ability to love even when she thought her love was not returned by Captain Wentworth.
Margaret Hale's willingness to, eventually, accept the fact that she is not always right and her way is not always the best way. I love watching her change from someone who thought that nothing good could exist in a certain place to recognizing the merits of Milton and Mr. Thornton. I see a lot of myself in her in the way that she has a hard time admitting that she is wrong.
Emma Woodhouse's vivacity and cheerfulness are so charming, as is her love for her father. Like Margaret Hale, she realizes that she has acted wrongly and is willing to sacrifice her pride to correct her mistakes. Plus, I love how she and Mr. Knightley are friends for all of her life before they realize they love each other.
Only one more. Hmm...Polly in An Old-Fashioned Girl by L.M. Alcott. She is always so cheerful and encouraging.

4. Five of your favorite historical novels?

Persuasion
Little Women
Emma
North and South
Pride and Prejudice

5. Out of those five books, who is your favorite major character and why?

In Persuasion, my favorite character is Anne, for reasons stated above.
Meg is my favorite March sister. She longs for things she cannot have, but she is able to be content with what she has once she realizes the true worth of love and family.
Emma Woodhouse is my favorite, again for reasons stated earlier.
And guess what? Margaret Hale is my favorite in North and South.
In Pride and Prejudice, Jane and Elizabeth Bennet are tied for my favorite character (that's allowed, right?). I admire Jane's optimism and positive view of people, but I also enjoy Lizzie's sparkling wit and ready answers. 

6. Out of those books, who is your favorite secondary character and why?
Anne's friend, Mrs. Smith, is my favorite. She is a poor invalid, but she still gives what she has to help those in worse situations than her own.
I admire Mr. Brooke in Little Women. Not only does he put up with Laurie's antics, but he also has the good sense to fall in love with Meg. 
Honestly, I wish I could get to know Jane Fairfax. She is mainly just spoken of in Emma, and I feel sorry for her. She seems like such a sweet girl who has the misfortune of an aunt who likes to talk about her niece excessively. She just seems to kind and gentle and patient.
Another character I like and wish to know more about is Georgiana Darcy. She appears to be a devoted and admiring sister. I think we would bond over our love for music.

7. If you were to plan out your dream vacation, where would you travel to - and what would you plan to do there?

The United Kingdom. I would visit London, see where Jane Austen lived, enjoy the architecture, then hop over to Scotland and Ireland. They're all beautiful places and honestly, I would be happy to just walk around everywhere and see the green hills and water crashing against the rocks.

8. What is your favorite time period and culture to read about?

The Regency period in England. After that, I like reading about the mid-nineteenth century.

9. You have been invited to perform at the local charity concert. Singing, comedy, recitation - what is your act comprised of?

I love to sing. All the time. So, I would probably do that. 

10. If you were to attend a party where each guest was to portray a heroine of literature, who would you select to represent?

Oh, goodness. I would probably choose Anne Elliot.

11. What are your sentiments on the subject of chocolate?

I like it, but not too much. You can have too much of a good thing. As long as it doesn't have unidentifiable items in it, I will eat any form of chocolate.

12. Favorite author(s)?

Jane Austen, obviously.
Lucy Maud Montgomery
Louisa May Alcott
Ted Dekker (random and unconnected, yes)
Charlotte Bronte

13. Besides essentials, what would you take on a visiting voyage to a foreign land?

My camera, lots of knitting, extra batteries, a watch, and snacks.

14. In what century were most of the books you read written?

In the nineteenth to early twentieth century.

15. In your opinion, the ultimate hero in literature is...

George Knightley. He speaks his mind to Emma, encourages her, and helps everyone around him.

16. Describe your ideal dwelling place.

A farmhouse in a field by the ocean. I know it probably doesn't exist in many places, but since it's my ideal, it can be whatever I wish.

17. Sum up your fashion style in a short sentence.

Bohemian business casual, I suppose.

18. Have you ever wanted to change a character's name?

No, nothing beyond "silly, stupid woman" to someone like Mrs. Bennet, but I don't think that really counts.

19. In your opinion, the most dastardly villain of all literature is...

I really don't know! I suppose I don't read many books with bad villains.

20. Three favorite non-fiction books?

Besides the Bible, of course, my three current favorites are:

Do Hard Things
Searching for Jane Austen
Lies Young Women Believe

21. Your duties met for the day, how would you choose to spend a carefree summer afternoon?

Outside, sitting on a blanket, reading and knitting.

22. Create a verbal sketch of your dream hat - in such a way as will best portray your true character.

Umm...I don't have a specific type of hat. Sometime elegant and understated. It would enhance the natural features of the wearer, not draw attention away from them.

23. Share the most significant event(s) that have marked your life in the past year.

Working at camp for several weeks last summer helped me grow so much. I had to truly rely on God for the strength to get through the days and be patient and loving with my campers instead of critical and sharp, as is my natural tendency. 

24. Share the Bible passage(s) that have been most inspiring to you recently.

I love Psalm 37:3-8:

Trust in the LORD, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
Delight yourself also in the LORD, 
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the LORD, 
Trust also in him,
And He shall bring it to pass.
He shall bring forth you righteousness as the light,
And your justice as the noonday.
Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath;
Do not fret - it only causes harm. 

Well, now that Pride and Prejudice is done and I have answered all of these questions, it's your turn to visit Kellie's blog and answer them.





Tuesday, February 11, 2014

It's okay





     Sometimes, I have to remind myself that it's okay to let go of things. There is no way that I could do everything for everyone all the time. I can't do my homework, lead songs at youth group, run a business, teach at Good News Club, work at camp's winter weekend, never miss school, and be sick at the same time without letting go of something.

     It's okay to sleep in on a school day so that I can stay relatively healthy for winter camp. It's okay that not all of my projects are done flawlessly and on time all the time. It will be okay if I don't introduce new songs all the time and play piano perfectly at youth group. It's okay to just sit and watch Tangled with Natalia when I babysit. 

It's okay to admit to others that I cannot do it all.
To admit that to myself.

I need to treasure the remaining time that I have with my family because it won't always be like this. I can have one hour phone conversations with my older sister who's in college nine hours away. I can throw a surprise party on a school night for a friend who recently moved to West Virginia.

I cannot do everything. I just need to do what I can and know when enough is enough.

"Only one life, 'twill soon be past; only what's done for Christ will last."
C.T. Studd

listen // think // make // do it

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Delight 365 // days 35-40

Day 35

"Imagination is more important than knowledge."
Albert Einstein


Day 36 

"She seeks wool and flax and works willingly with her hands."
Proverbs 31:13


Day 37

"What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. They are but trifles, to be sure; but scattered along life's pathway, the good they do is inconceivable."
Joseph Addison


Day 38

"If I go out there and get acquainted with all the trees and flowers and the orchard and the brook I'll not be able to help loving it."
Anne of Green Gables


Day 39

"The night was clear and frosty, all ebony of shadow and silver of snowy slope; big stars were shining all over the silent fields; here and there the dark pointed firs stood up with the snow powdering their branches and the wind whistling through them."
Anne of Green Gables



Day 40

"Outgrowing things we love is never a pleasant process."
Emily of New Moon


Monday, February 3, 2014

Delight 365 // days 27-34

Day 27

"Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It's splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world." 
Anne of Green Gables 

I threw a surprise party for one of my dear friends last week since she left for an equestrian college this past Saturday.


Day 28

"He who works with his hands is a laborer. He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands, his head, and his heart, is an artist." 
St. Francis of Assisi 


Day 29

The other night, Natalia was the last one of the little girls to brush her teeth before going to bed. She turned to me and said, "I'm the last one in the bathroom. You know why? Because I'm the last sister."


Day 30

"This is the story of how I died. Don't worry, it's actually a very nice story and it isn't even mine." - Tangled 

Sometimes Natalia and I chill out and watch Disney movies together. 


Day 32 (I missed Day 31)

One of my campers wiped out on the sledding hill at the winter camp I volunteered at this weekend. She was fine, don't worry. *smile*


Day 33

My brother Jacob skating at winter camp.


Day 34

“How wonderful it is to be able to write someone a letter! To feel like conveying your thoughts to a person, to sit at your desk and pick up a pen, to put your thoughts into words like this is truly marvelous. ” 
Haruki Murakami 

I received a lovely package of Rory tea from the lovely Miss Grace. It made my day. *smile*


Happy Monday, everyone!