Ellen Senechal's Blog, page 3
December 20, 2021
December 15, 2021
Happy Blog Birthday, Ellen's Musings! 😄
*hops on humming Happy Birthday to You . . .* I cannot believe my blog is 3 years old!!! The occasion is fully worthy of a giveaway, which is exactly what I have planned. 😄
Image credit: Sawyer MarieTHE PRIZES:
*A signed paperback copy of The Whispers God Gives
*A small notebook with the color of the cover similar to that of my devotional book
*A $10 Starbucks gift card
HOW TO ENTER:
Simply drop a comment below telling me how long you've been reading my blog, what your favorite post has been, or what posts you'd like to see from me in the future! Bonus entries if you follow my blog via Blogger (although being a follower is not a requirement to enter), give me a follow on Goodreads, leave a review for my book on any social media platform, or share the news of this giveaway with a friend. If you do it all, you'll get a total of five entries. Please note that, due to shipping costs, this giveaway is only open to US residents. Sorry, international friends ☹️
Have fun and good luck! This giveaway ends on Monday, December 20, and I will announce the winner the following day!
Blessings,
Ellen
December 11, 2021
"All for Christ" // Short Story Repost
I'm so excited to have entered December! My family has been enjoying doing advent every morning as we meditate on the wonder of our Savior's birth. <3
On December 15, 2021, Ellen's Musings will be 3 years old, which is crazy to me! I went back to reread one of my very first posts. It seemed appropriate for the Christmas season, so I thought I would copy, paste, and share it again with you all today. :) Enjoy!
Why, oh why, did Miss Cleaver choose me to be Mary’s cousin Elizabeth?
She tried to tell herself that she had no reason to worry. She’d practiced her lines over and over again. She could say them in her sleep. But…
What if I forget them suddenly? Horrid thought! Emma’s cheeks flushed just thinking about it.
“Emma, you all right?”
Emma, already a nervous wreck, jumped at her sister’s soft-spoken question. She sucked in a deep breath and swung around. “I-I’m fine.”
Charlene was one of the older students, so she’d requested not to be part of the Christmas pageant this year. However, after Fred Morris came down sick, Miss Cleaver had hired Charlene quick as a wink to be a “substitute shepherd boy.”
This was Emma’s first time seeing her sister in her full costume, and Charlene looked quite comical. She was dressed in a long robe and sandals. All of her pretty, dark hair was shoved up into a raggedy head covering.
Quite a difference from all these previous years, when Miss Cleaver always asked Charlene to be Mary or Elizabeth, Emma thought. She giggled softly. The butterflies in her stomach lessened their fluttering. “Thanks for helping me feel better,” she whispered.
Charlene’s eyebrows rose high. “Huh?”
“Never mind.” Emma waved her hand, and in so doing dropped one of her sheets of paper.
Charlene knelt to grab it. Her eyes grew big. “Emma, this sheet is saturated.” She stood and handed the paper over, then wiped her hand on her robe. “What’s all that water from?”
Emma bit her lip and showed her sister one of her palms. “I’m all sweaty.”
“I’ll say.” Charlene shook her head and fixed her hazel gaze on her little sister. “What’s wrong?”
“Well…” Emma ducked her head and said in a barely audible whisper, “I’m scared of going out there, Charlene. What if I botch my lines and everyone laughs at me?”
For a moment, Charlene was silent. Emma kept her head down. The toe of her shoe traced a pattern on the floor. From behind the curtain, Carrie Onstrong’s voice could be heard, loud and clear, as she repeated The Magnificat.
Emma’s fingers went back to clenching her papers. “Mary” is about to go visit “Elizabeth.” That means it’s almost to my part. Can I really do this? She shuddered. Carrie sounds so lovely. I’m sure there’s no way I could ever speak so—
“Emma, look at me.”
“I want you to promise me something.”
Emma swallowed. “What?”
“When you go out there, I want you to pretend there is no one watching you. No one but Jesus. Can you do that?”
Emma immediately understood what her sister was talking about. When I try to “people-please,” I turn into something I’m not, and I work myself into a dither for no reason at all. But if I want to serve Jesus, and focus only on bringing Him glory, I need to be me. I need to stop caring about what others think and focus my thoughts on Jesus. God didn’t make me like Carrie, or like Charlene, or like anybody! He made me in His Image, for His glory. I need to go out there and give it my all. For Jesus.
She nodded at Charlene. “Yes, I can do that. I can be Christ’s servant, not man’s.”
Emma breathed deep. Carrie finished her last line, and Emma stepped out from behind the curtain.
She would do this.
For Jesus.
p.s. So I won't be leaving anyone hanging, I'll tell you that Emma kept her thoughts focused on Jesus. The pageant went just as her Savior wanted it to, and she left with a peaceful heart and a confident soul. Charlene later told her, "You were marvelous, sister," and Emma knew her sister meant that compliment in more ways than one.
Have you read this story before, or was this your first time? Do you think I should do a blog birthday giveaway? (*spoiler* I may or may not have one already planned...) :D Merry Christmas! Remember to live your life wholly for Christ...He is the only one you have to please, and He is pleased with you already for no other reason except that you are His and He is yours.
Blessings,Ellen S. 💖💚💖💚💖💚💖
December 1, 2021
Sign up to participate in the "Do Hard Things" Bible study!
Here is the official sign-up sheet for the Do Hard Things Bible study. Already I have a few young ladies (besides my 13-yr-old sister and myself) planning to participate in the study, and I'm so super excited! The first Zoom meeting will be on December 16, but if you're unable to do the study/attend the Zoom meetings until after the New Year, that's fine, too. Chances are not everyone will make every single meeting we have, and there are 12 chapters + an afterword to go through, so you're welcome to join at any time!
Well, without any further ado: the sign-up form. Fill it out and click "submit", and I'll get back to you shortly! (also, if you plan to attend the meeting on December 16 and don't already own a copy of Do Hard Things, this allows you one week to get the book and another week to read your first chapter.) Eventually I will make a page for this form on my blog, so if you're not able to sign up now, you can later. Loading…
I look forward to seeing how God uses this!
Blessings,
Ellen
November 26, 2021
Thanksgiving Day, 2021 + Major Black Friday Sale on My Book!!
Around nine o'clock the night before Thanksgiving, my family experienced a very unexpected power outage. We were in the middle of watching an episode of Love It or List It on TV and popcorn was popping in the microwave when things went black. And eerily quiet. After we waited for a while and nothing happened, Dad found flashlights for everyone to take to their rooms, and we headed to bed. My bedroom is right next to the laundry, and usually I hear the delightful tumbling of the dryer or the swish, swish, swish of water in the washing machine, but not tonight. All was still. Not even my lovely, clackety bathroom fan was going. It was so silent, my ears literally hurt. Lying in my bed, I began to think of the things I easily took for granted . . . like the power, but, to be more specific, the lights, sound, and air conditioning/heating made possible through electricity. When was the last time I paused to even consider it? Shalom curled up on my feet and began to purr. Her purr had always been deep and rumbly, but especially tonight, when it competed with nothing except the hollow feeling in my eardrums. Closing my eyes, I determined to give thanks more often for the things that often go unnoticed, yet are unarguably significant.
The power came back on around midnight (right as Dad was about to get the generator running . . . sorry, Dad). Early the following morning, my sister, brother, and I went jogging as planned, then came back to help finish up Thanksgiving Day preparations. Our relatives were due to arrive at any moment, and it was a marathon trying to get the house cleaned and the food cooked and served in time while simultaneously entertaining the littles and holding Ruby, who refused to be put down. It was one of our biggest (if not the biggest) Thanksgiving dinners my family has ever had, with dishes of turkey, ham, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn casserole, yeast rolls and honey butter, and a sweet potato casserole. For dessert, there was pumpkin pie, apple pie, ginger snaps, sugar cookies, and ice cream. Mom had to make enough for our whole family, plus two aunts, two uncles, and two cousins. And then for supper, of course, almost everybody had leftovers. Electricity fueled our gas stove, kept the ice cream cold in the freezer, ran the microwave, and allowed us to turn on the lights while we ate. Going without power wouldn't have been the end of the world, but it certainly would have been an inconvenience to us spoiled American people . . . especially during a holiday!
This Thanksgiving Day, I was given a reality check that made me especially thankful. In the midst of all this corona madness and political junk, we may feel we have a lot to complain about, but God commands us to praise Him and give thanks through every circumstance. He has a plan, He is working, and He has gifted us with oh, so much . . . more than we can ever, ever deserve.
I'm thankful for power (of course), a clean Christian series of books I recently found, laughter, my family, my salvation, the gift of being able to run/walk/jog, music, sunshine, my kitten, my computer, food, clothes, a house to live in . . . and the list goes on. What're some things you're thankful for? Drop them in the comments below, or simply say a quick prayer to God praising Him for these unmerited blessings!
A final note before I close this post: my book, The Whispers God Gives, is currently on sale at Amazon for only $4 per paperback copy (the original price is $7.99)!! This super deal lasts only till Tuesday, so hurry on over and snag your copy (or if you're looking for a Christmas gift for a tween/teenage friend, here's your opportunity)! CLICK ANYWHERE IN THIS SENTENCE.
Enjoy your weekend! Happy Thanksgiving! (okay, so I'm technically a day late, but hey, it's never too late, or too early, to be thankful.)
Blessings,
Ellen S.
November 18, 2021
Update on the Study
Please note that immediately after submitting this form, you're able to go back and edit your answers.
Blessings,Ellen
November 14, 2021
"Do Hard Things" Bible Study
Hello friends,
We're having relatives fly in from out of state as well as picking Connor up later this week for Thanksgiving break, which I'm really excited about. 😀 Also, I've been studying for the SAT (prayers for that would be appreciated), catching up on my reading, and doing volunteer work. Shalom, I'm grateful to say, has settled in nicely. She's curled up in my lap as I type this. 😃 She is the sweetest, dearest little kitten. I love her so much.
*ahem* My reason for posting is to throw an idea at you guys and get your input on it.
This past year I read a book that invigorated and challenged me to live my life more boldly for Christ, and that book was Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations by Alex and Brett Harris. Some of you may have heard of the book or even own a copy of it already, but for those of you who haven't, here's the link to check Do Hard Things out on Amazon. In a world where teens are characterized and held back from reaching their full potential due to culture's low expectations of them, a book like Do Hard Things is needed. I know it met me right where I'm at and encouraged me to not "let anyone look down on [me] because [I am] young," but to "set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity" (1 Timothy 4:12). I would love to give other girls around my age that same opportunity to hear truth and live it out during the high school/teenage years (and every year after).
So, I'm thinking of facilitating an online Bible study. Once a week, we would read a chapter from Do Hard Things and meet over Zoom (or Skype) to discuss our thoughts/answers to the study guide questions provided in the back of the book. We would also dig deeper into Scripture. It would be a time of growth in our faith and a great way to encourage one another in Christ to do hard things for Him.
The requirements to join are that you have to be between the ages of 13 and 19, profess having a faith in Christ, are willing to supply your own copy of Do Hard Things, and absolutely must be a girl (I'm not looking to start a youth group LOL).
Are you interested? Drop a comment below or email me at butterflyellenann@gmail.com. Commenting or emailing does not commit you to anything, but simply gives me an idea of those who might be interested in attending.
I understand there are some of you who aren't sure due to privacy reasons, but again, comment below (or email), and we'll try to get something figured out, even if it's just to get you on an email list so you can (anonymously, if need be) answer questions or express your thoughts for that week's chapter.
Of course, I'm open to discussing further details, questions, dates/times, etc. Please talk about this with your parents, prayerfully consider participating, and spread the word!
Blessings,
Ellen💜
November 10, 2021
Honoring Christ in the way I dress
Since day one, I've been Sadie's "Mama Ellie." My little sister is younger than me by almost 14 years (Mom found out she was pregnant with her two weeks before my 13th birthday) and we look alike to an unbelievable extent. She has big, brown eyes like mine and she knows how to make the best use of them at her age. Mom complied to a request from her one time simply because Sadie's pleading spilled over into her eyes, and later on Sadie decided to take advantage of that. Sitting in the "timeout chair" after doing something wrong, she focused on Mom and said, "Look at my eyes! Can I get down?" (It was adorable, but no, the strategy didn't work.) As a big sister to her as well as six other siblings (four of which are also girls), I have a wide range of influence on them in my dress, speech, and actions. The other day Sadie and I got into a discussion about my clothes. I told her God gave girls skirts and wants us to look feminine, which was why I was putting a skirt on that day, and she answered in all seriousness, "Jesus gave me pants!" I wasn't expecting that response and tried to hide my smile as I thought of how best to explain to a three-year-old that yes, God allows us to wear pants, but at the same time He created us as girls and He wants us to look like girls and protect our purity.
Our conversation soon backfired on me when, the next morning, I came downstairs for breakfast still wearing my pajamas: flannel "fuzzy" pants and a T-shirt. "Ellie," Sadie said, "did God make you a girl?"
Scrounging around in the fridge for the milk, I answered, "Yes, of course He did." I thought we cleared this up yesterday. Where is she going with this?
"But you're wearing pants."
Uh oh.
Let it be known now that I wear pants to bed; I wear them when I go jogging; I wear them especially during the winter, when it's cold, or when I'm biking; I don't think there's anything wrong with wearing pants, provided my heart motives are in the right place. I'm at the age where, led by the Spirit, I can make these decisions for myself. But I have sisters who are thirteen, eleven, seven, three, and one years old, and I want to be a role model for them now in this area.
In a day and age where girls are told to "be who they want to be" and let every curve of their body be exposed, it's vitally important that my sisters know the truth. It needs to be reestablished to them (and every young woman) that they're beautiful, they were created by God as girls, they're worth waiting for, and the only ones who should see and know everything about them are God and their future husband. No item of clothing (pants, skirts, dresses, shirts, etc.) should be worn to draw attention. If it's practical, then by all means, yes, wear it.
The pastor from a church we attended this past year thought Mom and Dad had raised us according to some kind of cult based off our views on modesty and family, which is so not true! I want others to see a difference in me because of Christ. I want to honor Him with my body and with my clothes. That doesn't mean I don't struggle with temptation, because I do. There are times I want to "fit in" and feel tired of trying to stay modest when it seems no one else, not even other believers, hold the same convictions I do.
I don't condemn those who are different than me. I was once turned off from someone's blog when it felt like the blogger slammed me for being okay with wearing pants, and that is not what I'm trying to do in this post.
Clothes don't make the Christian; the heart does.
"Do not let your adorning be external--the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear--but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious." 1 Peter 3:3-4
Christian young ladies, we need to be confident in who we are in Christ. Our bodies are His temple; we're called to honor that. Today, let's examine our hearts and make Spirit-led decisions regarding every area of our life, including our clothing, to bring Him glory.
What're your thoughts on modesty? Do you have sisters for whom you need to set the example? Comment below!
Blessings,
Ellen S.
October 12, 2021
An Update of Sorts
*ruefully counts how many impromptu, unannounced blogging breaks I've taken over the past few months*
*grimaces*
*wonders who even reads these random musings anymore*
Sooo, hello, all! I haven't forgotten about this little nook of the blogging world and hopefully you guys haven't, either. At some point, I'd love to get back into posting regularly w/ book reviews, devotions . . . anything other than updates. But for now, this is my season of life, and I still enjoy hopping on here occasionally to give you all a glimpse of what I've been doing. (Especially since my writing assignments for English class always have to be formal, formatted in MLA, and checked over thoroughly for typos/grammar flaws. Writing informal, life update blog posts is a breeze compared to that. 😉) And because you're reading this right now, I guess you're continuing to enjoy my (somewhat disorganized) musings. 😜
The past few weeks were BUSY, to say the least. With my final math exam and last writing assignment in sight (session A of my semester @ Regent ends Saturday), things are finally beginning to wind down. Then . . . guess what. As it turns out, Regent has a limit of 7 credit hours per semester for early college program students, and I've already used 6 of those hours. So, after Saturday . . . no more school until January, 2022! *confetti* 🥳🥳🥳 I hope to pour my free time into doing ministry activities, like volunteer work, facilitating a Bible study at our church, and babysitting for a family we know with 4 kids ages 4 and under. And, of course, I want to do plenty of helping out @ home w/ chores and school for my sibs. Maybe now would be the perfect chance for me to finally apply myself to learning how to cook something other than eggs or cookies. 😁
My family and I spent a weekend visiting Connor @ college (we couldn't wait for Thanksgiving break to see him again 😄). He gave us a thorough tour of campus. We walked 5 or 6 miles one day, and it was great. The weather was absolutely beautiful, we all went out to dinner, and the younger kids, especially, clung to Connor and were upset when we left for home. It really helped us mentally to get to see him and know where he lives and what he does on a day-in, day-out basis.
Then my sweet, dear Ethel Mae turned into a biting, scratching kitten who didn't like to be held and could be violent at night (she liked to pounce on my face) and when she played. So, we unfortunately had to take her back to the rescue center also. 😢 They let us swap cats again, and we came home with a 12-week-old tabby I named Shalom, which is the Hebrew word for "peace." As of right now, she seems to be very promising: gentle, sweet, playful, and she loves loves LOVES to cuddle. Third time is a charm, right?
Isn't she beautiful? 😍
I'd love to know: what have YOU been up to?
Blessings,Ellen S.
September 20, 2021
Monday Musings // Kittens, Classes, and a Home Hair Cut
So, sadly, Heidi just wasn't fitting in well here. After we cracked through her shy persona, she became a little too aggressive with her biting and scratching to the point that I was scared to have one-year-old Ruby go near her for fear of what Heidi might do. Heidi also liked to run away when I went to pick her up, so she wasn't exactly the cuddle bug I'd envisioned. Plus, she and Juniper didn't get along together at all, which was a real bummer. Through the experience, my parents and I learned that there is a very valuable question to ask when adopting a pet from a rescue center: "How long was he/she out in the wild?" In Heidi's case, she'd been out in the wild for eight weeks . . . which explained her sometimes-shy, sometimes-belligerent personality. We had to take her back. 😢 Thankfully, we were allowed to swap her for another kitten: this one an eight-week-old with an absolutely endearing personality who'd been rescued by the center at ten days of age. She has a gorgeous brown/black coat and soft green-blue eyes. I named her Ethel Mae, after the character from the I Love Lucy television series. 😊
Ethel Mae and me 🥰I LOVE her eyes. 😍She's super playful and can provide hours of entertainment . . .
. . . but she also loves to snuggle. 💗 I came back from my jog the other morning and didn't have time to freshen up before she was again at my feet, wanting to be held ⬇⬇⬇
Besides adopting a new kitten, my days have been filled with college classes (I'm LOVING the English, but the math . . . not so much 😂). Also, my hair was getting really long and straggly. I finally learned how to messy bun it using two rubber bands (bobby pins are too much work 🤣) but the length of my hair when it was loose could still get frustrating. So, my mom gave me another one of her famous home hair cuts (evidenced through the pictures in this post), and I love how light and fresh it feels!!
So, tell me about you! How's school going? Are you excited for fall? It's just around the corner!
Blessings,Ellen S.
