E.G. Bella's Blog, page 11

My Top 5 Fantasy Books (Five Fall Favorites)

Happy Tuesday, and welcome to the second day of the Five Fall Favorites blog party!

You can find all of the information about the Five Fall Favorites blog party by seeing my first post from yesterday, or by going to the lovely host (Kate Willis Hoppman)’s site, but for a quick recap, each day this week, a group of bloggers is each sharing their five favorite books in a particular genre – the goal being for us all to find some great new reads!

There is also a grand giveaway at the end of all this, with some of the prizes featured below in the images below. You can enter that giveaway by just following this link.

Some of the grand prize!

And if that wasn’t enough, every day there’s also a Kindle deal going on, where you can snag the featured ebook free on Amazon. These are great stories written by many of the authors participating in this blog party, and I encourage you to check them out!

Today’s featured deal is The Night Archers by Kate Willis (yes, the host of this event)! You can find it by clicking that link, or the image below.

And now, onto today’s topic!

My Top 5 Fantasy Books

If I had to pick a favorite overall genre, it would be fantasy. I absolutely love the imagination and freedom that stories in the fantasy genre bring. And while fantasy is often narrowed down, I’m going to include the sub-genre of dystopian in this round-up, since it’s technically still fantasy – and because I think I read more dystopian than straight fantasy.

With their unique worlds, creative characters, and intricate plot lines, there are few stories that suck me in faster than fantasy ones. Here are a few that I especially enjoy!

The Chronicles of Narnia (the series)

Author: C. S. Lewis

Genre: Fantasy/Allegory

Target Audience: Middle grade (but enjoyed by all ages)

What Stuck Out To Me: What fantasy favorites list would be complete without The Chronicles of Narnia? I’m very fond of these stories.

Admittedly, I always had some trouble getting into the writing style when I was younger. But once I decided to stick it out, knowing that I already liked the stories from the movies, I couldn’t stop reading! Of course, Aslan is my favorite part, and I admire how C. S. Lewis created such a vivid set of stories that both stand on their own, and lead readers back to the greatest (true!) story of all time. From beginning to end, these books are so rich.

Tricky Content: Violence, references about other gods that are worshipped by some of Narnia’s inhabitants, a historically-accurate but now touchy word for donkey used, and intense events due to the allegorical nature of the books (the last one in particular).

I’d Recommend It To: Middle-grade readers and up that enjoy deep fantasy reads.

Here’s the link to add The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe on Goodreads!

The Out of Time Series

Author: Nadine Brandes

Genre: Dystopian

Target Audience: Young Adult (YA)

What Stuck Out To Me: First of all, the premise! The whole idea of knowing exactly when you’re going to die – or, in the protagonist’s case, knowing when someone will – is fascinating.

As always, Nadine’s writing style is beautiful, clear, and gripping, and I have really enjoyed watching her characters struggle and learn throughout the intense plotline. Her weaving of faith into the story is also well-done. Now I’ll admit that I still have the last book and a half to read of this series, so I can’t review all of it, but so far, it’s been well worth the read!

Tricky Content: Some scary and intense situations, (non-graphic) violence, and clean romantic attraction.

I’d Recommend It To: Teens and up that enjoy twisting, adventurous dystopian stories.

Here’s the link to add A Time to Die on Goodreads!

The Hunger Games (the series)

Author: Suzanne Collins

Genre: Dystopian

Target Audience: Young Adult (YA)

What Stuck Out To Me: I’d heard that these books weren’t nearly as good as the movies, but I was very pleasantly surprised by them! I enjoyed them all, and stayed very interested.

The premise and Hunger Games themselves were fascinating and gripping, I thought the characters felt very realistic and acted like many of us would in the same situations, and the writing style itself was a good balance of description and action. I read the first two books in one day, they were so good! Personally, the last book wasn’t quite as interesting (it slowed down to focus more on PTSD and mental health), but it was still a good conclusion.

It’s also worth noting that I appreciated the exploration of governmental roles in these books. So many situations occurred where I had to stop and think, “what would I do in this instance?” I thought Collins handled those morally and ethically troublesome scenes fairly.

Tricky Content: Frequent violence – often graphic, but not gratuitous, intense and scary scenes, a love triangle with light physicality (kissing, huddling together for warmth), shown alcoholism, and exploration of PTSD.

I’d Recommend It To: Mature teens and up looking for a fast-paced and intense read with deep themes.

Here’s the link to add The Hunger Games on Goodreads!

Inkheart

Author: Cornelia Funke

Genre: Fantasy

Target Audience: Middle Grade (MG)

What Stuck Out To Me: I’d watched the movie several times growing up, but for some reason, never read the book until recently. What a fun book!

I found it a very charming and whimsical story. The main character and her father were sweet, and I loved the colorful variety of characters.

The sheer amount of pages did take quite a while to get through, and I think the story could have been condensed, especially as it’s geared toward a younger audience. However, the length seems to go with the older, ‘quaint’ writing style, and I didn’t mind much. Once the main plotline got started, I was very interested, and enjoyed the adventure!

Tricky Content: Some mild language and taking the Lord’s name in vain several times, characters with superstitious beliefs, a magic system, threats of violence from the villains.

I’d Recommend It To: Middle grade readers and up, that enjoy lengthy, imaginative fantasy stories.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

The Thirst Duology

Author: Jill Williamson

Genre: Dystopian

Target Audience: Young Adult (YA)

What Stuck Out to Me: As is usually the case with dystopians, the initial premise! A global pandemic (written before 2020, believe it or not)? No safe water? Count me in!

This series is a duology, and written from two main points of view. I enjoyed getting to know all the characters, watching them navigate their crazy, changed world. I also definitely liked the ones I was supposed to like and hated the ones I was supposed to hate. There were very well-done themes of loss, family, fellowship, survival, and faith, and the action was steady and intriguing, with mysterious plot twists, and a constant sense of urgency.

These books are actually prequels to Jill Williamson’s Safe Lands series, which I haven’t read yet, but I found that didn’t keep me from enjoying and understanding these at all. And considering that they’re prequels, I felt they ended well. I even got my sister hooked too!

Tricky Content: Some touchy romance, a few disturbing descriptions of illness/death, intense survival scenes, and occasional mild language.

I’d Recommend It To: Teens and up, looking for an intriguing survival story in an apocalyptic earth.

Here’s the link to add Thirst on Goodreads!

What’s this? We’ve reached the end of day two of the Five Fall Favorites blog party! What are some of your favorite fantasy reads? Have you read any of the books I mentioned? If so, what did you think? I’d love to hear from you!

Again, check out Kate’s host post here, for a full list of other bloggers participating and so that you can find even more book recommendations! Don’t forget to join the giveaway here, and pick up the daily Kindle deal (The Night Archers by Kate Willis), here!

See you tomorrow for some more bookish fun!

Recent Posts:

My Top 5 Fantasy Books (Five Fall Favorites)5 Books that Make Me Me (Five Fall Favorites)2022 September Wrap-Up

5 Books that Make Me Me (Five Fall Favorites)

Happy Monday, and welcome to the first day of the Five Fall Favorites blog party!

I’m so thrilled to take part in this fun, creative, and delightfully bookish event, organized by the lovely Kate Willis Hoppman. This is the 7th year in a row that this event has been run (my first time joining in), and it’s going to be great!

Whether you’re looking for book recommendations, enjoy seeing a bunch of book covers, or just like reading about books in general, this is for you. Each day from now until October 8th, a group of bloggers (me included) are going to be sharing our top 5 favorite books in a variety of genres. Explore them all to find some great reads!

Oh, and did I mention giveaways?

Yes, indeed, every day there are great chances to snag some free Kindle reads and also enter to win the epic grand prize (pictured below)! You can put your name in the giveaway by clicking this link right here.

A glimpse of the grand prize!

And the Kindle deal for today is none other than Emmeline by Sarah Holman, a creative retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma. I encourage you to go check it out! Click this link (or the image below) to find it.

And now, onto today’s topic!

Five Books that Make Me Me

This is a short introduction to me through books! For this, I’ve picked a collection of books that have most shaped who I am as a person and as a writer. It’s been super difficult to narrow it down, because there are so many books that have influenced me over the years.

Books have always meant a lot to me, and I’d even go so far as to say that every book has influenced me in some way. Apparently by the time I was six, I was reading at a sixth-grade level, just reading whatever I could find. Stories have a unique and powerful way of reaching, teaching, and inspiring people, and I’ve never stopped enjoying them.

Here are a few of the books that have most influenced me over the years. (I’ve reviewed many of these in more depth on Goodreads, so if you’re interested in reading my thoughts – or just other reviews in general – you can find the Goodreads link under each book.)

Bridge to Terabithia

Author: Katherine Paterson

Genre: Contemporary/Realistic

Target Audience: Middle Grade (MG)

What Stuck Out to Me: Bridge to Terabithia is one of the first ‘deep’ books that I read – years ago – and it’s stuck with me ever since. Even though it’s middle grade, the themes of guilt, grief, and loss explored are powerful.

I can relate to and appreciate the characters, and how real they are – mistakes, emotions, reactions, all of it.

Though some people think I’m crazy for having a favorite book that’s so sad, I’m just always drawn to the fact that Paterson didn’t shy away from writing about difficult situations in life. And though there’s no eternal hope portrayed – I wish there was – she still manages to end the book with a glimmer of light.

Tricky Content: Frequent and mild language, tragedy, and views expressed about God that portray what many may honestly believe, but are inaccurate.

I’d Recommend It To: Mature middle grade readers and up (due to the content).

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

The Scorpio Races

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Genre: Fantasy

Target Audience: Young Adult (YA)

What Stuck Out to Me: This is one of my favorites. I love the descriptive world-building, the unique story premise (a dangerous race with mythical water horses), the realistic and likable characters, and yes, even the romance threads woven through.

Most of all, I love Stiefvater’s narrative voice. It’s beautiful, lyrical, and flowing, and yet relatable and clear.

For some reason, I haven’t gotten around to reading more books by her yet, but I do plan to. As a writer, the narrative voice used has continued to influence me greatly. I’ve never read a writing style that so closely resembles mine, and yet hers is so much more beautiful than mine. It’s inspired me to continue improving!

Tricky Content: Fleeting suggestive references, mild to severe language (including using the Lord’s name in vain), a mix of Catholic-inspired religion and references to gods and goddesses, mildly descriptive brutality during the races in particular.

I’d Recommend It To: Teens and adults that like fast-paced fantasy reads.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

Hind’s Feet On High Places

Author: Hannah Hurnard

Genre: Allegory

Target Audience: Anyone (the older you are, the more you get from it)

What Stuck Out to Me: I can’t even count the number of times I’ve read this book by now (it was also one of the primary inspirations behind The Toymaker’s Doll) Simple and even child-like in its writing style, it’s filled with powerful spiritual reminders of what it means to be a Christian.

The Bible alone teaches us what we need to know about God in order to be saved, but allegories like this one have helped me truly grasp God’s character, and how He feels about us. Hurnard’s representation of the Good Shepherd is touching, and has led to some very meaningful times of prayer. Also, boy, do I relate to Much-Afraid and her struggles!

Tricky Content: An older and repetitive style of writing that might be too childish for some readers’ preferences, and some questionable moments of theology that can be compared to Hinduism. While I feel the truth outweighed the troublesome content for my journey personally, as always, allegories should be read with much discernment and prayer.

I’d Recommend It To: Readers of pretty much any age that enjoy sweet allegories about growth and journeys through the hardships of life.

Here’s the link to add it on Goodreads!

The Harry Potter Series

Author: J. K. Rowling

Genre: Fantasy

Target Audience: Middle Grade and up

What Stuck Out to Me: As a reader, I’ve always loved the immersivity of these books. Rowling has done a fantastic job creating a unique, expansive world filled with interesting and memorable characters and creatures.

Especially as a writer, I marvel over all of the details she wove through this series! Tiny details I didn’t think twice about end up coming in five books later in huge ways, and over and over again, I’m just amazed with how well she knew her own world and stories. That’s been a big inspiration to me with my own writing. Every time I reread this series, I discover more hints and foreshadowing I missed before.

Tricky Content: The series gets darker and more intense as it goes on (especially in the last half), witchcraft and wizardry are prominent, and both the ‘good’ and the ‘dark’ sides of that are shown – though the dark is always presented as something to avoid, occasional mild language, stereotypical teenage romance shenanigans later on, and some violence. Again, this is a series to read with discernment, taking it as fantasy and nothing more.

I’d Recommend It To: Mature middle-grade readers and up that enjoy immersive and imaginative fantasy reads.

Here’s the link to add the first book on Goodreads!

Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World

Author: Joanna Weaver

Genre: Christian/Non-Fiction

Target Audience: Adult Women

(The physical copy is packed away somewhere at the moment.)

What Stuck Out to Me: This is one of the few non-fiction books I’m referencing this week, but it’s one that has made a big impact on me. Years ago, I read through it, while feeling like I was too busy to make time for God (ridiculous, yes, I know). The truths in it helped me get back into a regular routine of seeking the Lord.

Weaver shares many personal anecdotes and experiences, as well as some examples of dramatized stories from the New Testament (mainly about Mary and Martha of Bethany) to illustrate her points. She also includes reflection questions and further materials to study. I found all of these things helpful, and learned some very valuable lessons about not taking on too much that God isn’t calling me to (lessons I’m still mastering).

Tricky Content: This might be getting old by now, but again, I’d just suggest reading this with prayer and discernment. No book besides the Bible will be perfect, but I thought that the material in this one was pretty solid.

I’d Recommend It To: Young adult or adult Christian women, especially those who struggle with taking the time to be still in Jesus’ presence.

Here’s the link to add the book on Goodreads!

And just like that, we’re already wrapping up day one of the Five Fall Favorites blog party! What are some of the books that have most impacted your life and who you are? Have you read any of the books I mentioned? If so, what did you think? I’d love to hear from you!

Again, check out Kate’s host post here, for a full list of other bloggers participating and so that you can find even more book recommendations! Don’t forget to join the giveaway here, and pick up the daily Kindle deal (Emmeline by Sarah Holman), here!

See you tomorrow for some more bookish fun!

Recent Posts:

5 Books that Make Me Me (Five Fall Favorites)2022 September Wrap-Up25 Quotes to Inspire You to Stay Strong

2022 September Wrap-Up

Hello and happy Wednesday!

Today’s post brings another summary of the past month of my life – with writing progress reports, reading accomplishments, and general updates!

So without further ado . . .

General Update

It’s finally fall (or autumn, if you prefer)! The weather has been so beautiful lately, and I’m both thankful for the time outside that I’ve gotten, and sad that I can’t be out there all the time. I’d love at least three or four months of this, but if it was half the year, I wouldn’t complain, haha. Sweaters, colorful leaves, tea, warm sunshine and cool air…definitely my favorite season! Have you been enjoying the weather where you are?

This month, I finished the Publish & Thrive course I was taking, have worked my way through the HB90 bootcamp (I recommend both courses – they’ve been very helpful!), wrote more, prioritized getting my schedule and writing materials more organized, continued working, celebrated my boyfriend’s birthday, jumped back into a local young adult Bible study, and enjoyed a parade and historic event in my area around Labor Day. It’s been full!

Health-wise, the migraines have yet to improve. I spent my boyfriend’s birthday lying down, instead of celebrating how we’d hoped. Thankfully, God provided enough strength that I was still able to play board games and watch a movie, and we did the more active celebrating last weekend. It’s frustrating to not be reliable for work or loved ones, and I’m still praying this is short-term. But through it all, God remains faithful and is teaching me hard but good lessons. I’m so thankful for supportive and understanding people in my life.

Fiction Writing

What’s this? I actually followed through on my fiction goals this month? Yes! I wasn’t able to finish the entire final edit for Cabin Girl, like I’d hoped, but I only have four chapters left, and have made a lot of progress. I added about 2,454 words to the manuscript, in addition to cutting, trimming, and re-writing. Doing this narrative voice tune-up has definitely been worth it, and I’m much happier with how it’s turning out.

With as much progress on Cabin Girl as I’ve been able to make, I’m really excited to start sharing more and more about it as the dates for publishing get closer (January of 2023)! If you’re a reader or blogger and have any interest in helping with some part of the release, please feel free to reach out! I’m always thrilled to work with fellow story-lovers.

On the Blog

Six posts for this month! That’s seemed to be about the perfect number for me lately, and I’m happy to have been able to keep up with them so far this summer/autumn. That said, as October approaches, I’ll have a few more special posts coming…

I’m excited to share this fun upcoming blog event with you all! Next week, me and many other bloggers will be posting a collection of our favorite books in different genres every day. Add in some fun extras and giveaways and it will be a great time! I’ll hope you’ll stop by and enjoy all the bookish fun! It’s hosted by the lovely Kate at Once Upon an Ordinary.

Here are the posts for September (just click the links to read each one):

~ The Best Books I’ve Read So Far in 2022
~ An Introduction to My Bookshelf
~ 2 Years of Blogging: My Reflections
~ 25 Quotes to Inspire You to Stay Strong
~ 2022 September Wrap-Up (no link required…it’s this one!)
~ Go Teen Writers: Write Your Novel (Book Review) (This will be out on Friday! I’ll add the link once it’s posted.)

Reading List

For once, I have a larger reading list to share with you!

Reading was more of a priority for September, and I enjoyed being able to finish six full books. That brings me up to about 26 of 55 books for the year. I still have a ways to go to reach my reading challenge goal, but I think I can make it – and I hope so, as there are so many books on my shelves that I want to get to!

~ Hunger by Jill Williamson
(A gripping, character-driven, and satisfying finale to a great duology! Both prequels were very enjoyable, and I look forward to reading the connected series soon. I’ve been a fan of Jill Williamson’s teaching and personality for some time, but now I can confidently say I’m a fan of her writing too!)
~ Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
(This book really impacted me when I was younger. Are there things I wish were different -more character development, longer ending, less language? Yes. But for a middle-grade book exploring such deep themes as loss, grief, and guilt, I appreciate how real it is.)
~ Wishtress by Nadine Brandes
(Well, yet another favorite book, once again by Nadine Brandes. I think this may be my favorite of hers yet, partly because she used some tropes and explored story ideas and questions that I absolutely love. The themes, the characters, the world…just everything was so well-done, and I highly recommend this one!)
~ Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk
(This is an absolutely beautiful, middle-grade story that – despite its simplistic plot and prose – explored some very powerful, hard truths about life. It being simple may have actually helped. It started off slow, but once it gripped me, didn’t let go until I finished.)
~ The River at Night by Erica Ferencik
(I took a gamble on this one, not knowing anything about it beyond the contemporary/survival genre and the well-done cover. Unfortunately, I can’t recommend it at all, due to frequent, severe language, some overly-suggestive content, and overall, lackluster characters and plot. Some of it was engaging, but not enough for me to reread.)
~ Go Teen Writers: Write Your Novel by Stephanie Morrill, Jill Williamson, & Shannon Dittemore
(I have so many good things to say about this one – and yes, I’m going to share a full review on Friday, so stay tuned for that! I’m not a new writer anymore, but I still found so many great refreshers, and really appreciated the simple, yet in-depth way they tackled a huge variety of author-ly topics. Definitely recommend this one for any writers!)

Looking Forward

I have so many hopes and goals for October, and I think a lot of what actually happens is going to depend on my migraines. No matter what, I plan on continuing to enjoy this beautiful weather, read more, and keep up with some light ‘homework’ for the Bible study that started this weekend. I know that I don’t study God’s Word as much as I should, so it’s been nice to get back into the Bible on a regular basis. So much wisdom and truth there.

There are a few big plans this month that I’m really praying I feel up to, including a Broadway performance of Anastasia (one of my favorite musicals) that I’ll be attending with my cousin and her good friend next week. The week after, my boyfriend and I also have a water park day planned. We went to it last year and, for some reason, greatly enjoyed falling six stories down a water funnel repeatedly, so – God willing – we’re going to do it again.

Planning too far in advance is a struggle right now, but I’m trying to take full advantage of my good weeks, and figure out some light yet still productive things that I can work on when I’m not feeling great. So my writing goals for October include participating in the Fall Favorites blog event, finishing my Cabin Girl edit and sending it to proofreaders, formatting the ebook, finalizing its synopsis, and rereading the prequel so I can rewrite it for NaNoWriMo. We’ll see what gets done, but I’m hopeful!

What was YOUR September like? What kinds of things did you get to do? If you have a progress report on something, or books you read and would like to share, go ahead and let me know in the comments! And while you’re at it, feel free to include what you’re looking forward to and/or hoping to accomplish in October! As always, I’m excited to hear from you!

Recent Posts:

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25 Quotes to Inspire You to Stay Strong

If you’ve been reading my blog lately, you’re probably about sick of hearing about my recent migraine experiences, and I apologize.

However, what I write on this blog corresponds very much to what I’m currently learning about. And right now, I’m sure learning a lot from these migraines.

Physical lessons (what helps the pain and dizziness), mental and emotional lessons (warning signs that I’m getting a migraine, such as forgetfulness, mood swings, and a very foggy head), and a lot of spiritual lessons too.

In particular, the past few weeks have been causing me to think more about strength again. Again, not just physical strength, but mental, emotional, and spiritual too.

I’ve never been the strongest of people, as much as it’s frustrated me. My goal one day is to get back into regular weight lifting and work back up to the level of strength I was at a few years ago. Right now, considering everything, I’ve slacked off.

Now, not knowing when migraines are going to happen is my latest excuse for procrastinating. I still don’t know how much activity is good for my head, and how much is going to be a trigger, and I haven’t felt like experimenting much. And yes, that’s absolutely only part of the reason. I know that if it was truly my priority I’d find a way.

At the moment, I have other priorities that rank higher on my list. But I’ve still been thinking about strength an awful lot lately. And more than physical strength, what about emotional, mental, and especially spiritual strength?

Something I’ve noticed in the few days to a week before a migraine hits hard is the difference in my mind. That’s been one of the biggest indicators for me lately. When I’m suddenly struggling to think in coherent sentences, remember names or earlier that day, or when random silly things that should be obvious are baffling to me, it’s a clue.

Or, perhaps more annoyingly, when my emotions are all out of whack. Suddenly everything is irritating to me, I feel like crying over any and every little thing, and I just don’t have the emotional strength to handle extra stress – even if it’s relatively small.

It’s those times – and after I’m resting in bed later – that I feel really weak.

I don’t like it. And I don’t think anyone does.

How many of us really enjoy feeling weak, or like a burden to others? No, we want to be strong. We want to control our lives, do what we feel like, and not be slowed down or kept from living life the way we want. Being held back by something out of our control can feel like a kind of torture sometimes, can’t it?

And yet, this has been on my mind a lot lately: nothing’s ultimately in our control. Ever.

The only thing we have a say in is our attitude. We make our own choices with the circumstances that God allows in our lives. We may not be able to control what happens to us, but we can control how we respond to it.

Spiritually, I’m ashamed to admit that my first response isn’t always to go to God in prayer when I’m struggling. Far too often, I try to figure it out on my own first. To power through it. But what does that gain me?

I end up with a lot of frustration, discouragement, and even more exhaustion.

Friends, we may not all be dealing with the same struggles, but each of us has something (or multiple somethings) in our lives that we’re battling through. It’s hard. It’s draining. We can’t make it through on our own, even if we think we can and try to.

Through Scripture, songs, and loved ones, God has been reminding me that He is our strength. When we don’t feel strong enough (because, let’s face it, we’re not), all we need to do is turn to Him, and He’s all the strength that we’ll ever need.

He doesn’t always – or often, in my experience – take away the battle, but He gives us the strength to fight it and come out the other side even stronger than we were before.

I need to remember this, so I’ve spent a bit of time lately praying about it, reading Bible verses about His strength, and talking with loved ones that I trust. And today I thought I’d share some bits of wisdom that have been shared with me lately as well.

This is a little different than my usual quote collections, as there are more quotes, and not all of them are from expressed Christians. So while I can’t vouch for each person or their choices, I do think there’s wisdom in all of these quotes, and they’ve each been encouraging to me lately. I pray they give you some encouragement as well.

1. “We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.”
~ Chuck Swindoll

2. “My scars remind me that I did indeed survive my deepest wounds. That in itself is an accomplishment. And they bring to mind something else, too. They remind me that the damage life has inflicted on me has, in many places, left me stronger and more resilient. What hurt me in the past has actually made me better equipped to face the present.”
~ Steve Goodier

3. “When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.”
~ Henry Ford

4. “Resilience is very different than being numb. Resilience means you experience, you feel, you fail, you hurt. You fall. But, you keep going.”
~ Yasmin Mogahed

5. “Show me someone who has done something worthwhile, and I’ll show you someone who has overcome adversity.”
~ Lou Holtz

6. “It is only in our darkest hours that we may discover the true strength of the brilliant light within ourselves that can never, ever, be dimmed.”
~ Doe Zantamata

7. “Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one.”
~ Bruce Lee

8. “Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today.”
~ Thich Nhat Hanh

9. “Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.”
~ Carl Bard

10. “Hard times are sometimes blessings in disguise. We do have to suffer but in the end it makes us strong, better and wise.”
~ Anurag Prakash Ray

11. “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

12. “A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.”
~ Christopher Reeve

13. “Being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated is optional.”
~Roger Crawford

14. “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”
~ Thomas Edison

15. “We all have battles to fight. And it’s often in those battles that we are most alive: it’s on the frontlines of our lives that we earn wisdom, create joy, forge friendships, discover happiness, find love, and do purposeful work.”
~ Eric Greitens

16. “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”
~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

17. “Tough times never last, but tough people do.”
~ Robert Schuller

18. “Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.”
~ Dale Carnegie

19. “Courage isn’t having the strength to go on — it is going on when you don’t have strength.”
~ Napoléon Bonaparte

20. “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning how to dance in the rain.”
~Vivian Greene

21. “Resilience is accepting your new reality, even if it’s less good than the one you had before. You can fight it, you can do nothing but scream about what you’ve lost, or you can accept that and try to put together something that’s good.”
~ Elizabeth Edwards

22. “Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.”
~ Joshua J. Marine

23. “No one escapes pain, fear, and suffering. Yet from pain can come wisdom, from fear can come courage, from suffering can come strength — if we have the virtue of resilience.”
~ Eric Greitens

24.“It’s your reaction to adversity, not adversity itself that determines how your life’s story will develop.”
~ Dieter F. Uchtdorf

25. “Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day, saying, “I will try again tomorrow.”
~ Mary Anne Radmacher

Strength isn’t always loud voices, brave faces, and muscle. Sometimes – often – it’s patient waiting, honest prayer, and choosing to rest in the presence and strong arms of our Father. That’s where we truly get our strength, and as long as we remember that, we’re in good shape. He’s got a good and perfect plan, and nothing can foil it.

Did any of these quotes speak to you today? Can I pray for you in any way? Please let me know your favorites in the comments, as well as if there is a certain topic you’d like to see more quotes about. While you’re there, I’d love to learn how you stay hopeful in the midst of life’s difficulties!

The Lord gives strength to his people;
the Lord blesses his people with peace.
(Psalms 29:11 NIV)

1. I shared more of my quote collection in many previous posts, which you can find here.

2. To receive your own printable pages of the above quotes (and the ones used in my other ‘Quotes’ posts), sign up for my email list! Simply fill in the form here, and I’ll send you PDF copies of the quote collections – as well as an inspirational short story. I look forward to hearing from you!

Recent Posts:

25 Quotes to Inspire You to Stay Strong2 Years of Blogging: My ReflectionsAn Introduction to My BookshelfThe Best Books I’ve Read So Far in 20222022 August Wrap-Up25 Quotes to Inspire You to Stay Strong2 Years of Blogging: My ReflectionsAn Introduction to My Bookshelf

2 Years of Blogging: My Reflections

Hello and happy Wednesday!

Last year, after about one year of blogging on this site, I shared the top lessons I’ve learned, as well as a quick update on my stats since September of 2020. You can find that post, here.

Much to my amazement, it’s now been over two years since I launched this website and began blogging here! I can’t decide if it feels like it’s been longer or shorter. Both, I suppose, in various ways.

Though many of my lessons learned remain the same as last year, I did want to take a moment to share some of my stats a year later, as well as my recent reflections and plan going forward with my website. I hope you’ll find them interesting!

My Overall Stats

First, a caveat that I don’t share these stats to brag (if you think they’re impressive) or to try and garner pity (if you think they’re pathetic). They simply are what they are. I’ve found it helpful to read about other bloggers’ stats and experiences, so I’m sharing mine with the hope that they’re valuable to someone as well.

We all have our own unique blogging journeys, and we should celebrate all of them!

How long have I been blogging? Two years and three days, to be exact.

How many posts have I published on this site? 183 (with some extras pre-written)

How many WordPress followers do I have? 148

How many subscribers receive my posts via email? 12

My highest amount of views in a month? 1.2K (in August of 2022)

My site’s all-time amount of views? 15,617

Average wordcount per post? 1,403

Most popular day (in terms of views)? Sunday

Most popular hour (in terms of views)? 1:00 PM

Highest-viewed blog post? 10 Quotes About Putting God First (with 3,373 views)

Lowest-viewed blog post? How Theatre Has Helped My Writing (with 8 views) (haha)

As you can see, there’s a huge variety in my stats, and that’s okay! I find it interesting how all the different aspects of my blog have grown and changed over the past couple of years.

For example, the rate of followers I gain has heavily decreased. For a while, it was a handful every month, now I’ll sometimes go a month or more without gaining one. However, the amount of views and comments have largely increased each month, with last month even jumping into the thousands for the first time.

It’s tempting to get discouraged when something changes and I think it’s for the worst. But it’s been helpful to remember that as long as I’m doing my best and being genuine, I’m doing all I can. The rest is in God’s hands, and He’ll allow only what should happen.

It’s also helped me relax since starting a newsletter, publishing a story, writing on Medium, and joining a couple of social media platforms, knowing that not everything hinges on whether or not people find and read my blog. I can still be found and interact with others elsewhere. It may sound silly, but that knowledge takes some of the pressure off.

My Reflections

This blog has been extremely rewarding at times, extremely challenging at times, but all in all, completely worth it. I’m so glad I’ve been able to share my thoughts, gush about my favorite projects and books I’m reading, and get to interact with the warm and welcoming blogging community.

Some of my posts are very raw and real, sharing lessons I’m learning and experiences I’ve had that I feel compelled to share. Some are light and fun, like sharing my music tastes or writing one-sentences stories (twice). Others are all about writing; tips for fellow writers, my current projects, and story updates. The variety has been very fun for me.

My blogging schedule has also changed significantly over time. It began sporadically, with posts whenever I felt like it; sometimes days apart, sometimes weeks apart. Then, I changed to blogging 2-3 times a week, building up my library of content. Finally, more recently, I’ve switched to blogging 1-2 times a week, slowing down to allow myself time for other projects.

My Plan Going Forward

I have many hopes and plans for this blog, but don’t know exactly what will take place or when. Some of my future (hopefully soon) plans include designing my very own website logo, rebranding and redesigning my entire website so that I have a more cohesive branding strategy, using that strategy on my posts/images from now on, and just generally streamlining this blog and the website as a whole, so it’s easier and more pleasant to use.

(If you have any ideas you’d love to see for this, please let me know!)

I’ll also likely be reevaluating my posting schedule, as I really push to publish my pirate trilogy, and deal with these migraines that don’t seem to be going away. Being forced to develop healthier and more realistic expectations for myself has been difficult, but something I do consider a blessing, because I know it’s God teaching me what’s most important. Turns out, I just can’t do it all, haha.

Along with reevaluating my posting schedule is reevaluating the types of content I blog about most often. This includes (hopefully next year) adding in more book reviews, using a review framework I have yet to develop. I love reading, can read pretty fast, and want to do a lot more of it, so I might as well share my findings at the same time.

(Again, if you have any ideas or recommendations for types of content/specific book reviews you’d love to see on the blog, please let me know!)

Overall, in the next year of blogging, I’d like to slow down and really focus on my foundations, making this blog and my website as a whole the best that it can be. Especially as I begin to publish more fiction, I want to have my basics in place, and develop a strong, realistic approach to writing both fiction and non-fiction.

Whether you’ve been reading my blog for months – or years – or whether this is your first post by me, thank you so much for your support. I really don’t have the words to describe how much the community and encouragement has meant to me. Blogging has been an outlet, a comfort, a pathway to friendships, and a huge blessing in my life. You’re part of that.

I look forward to many more years of blogging with you all, God willing!

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An Introduction to My Bookshelf

Happy Friday!

I have a fairly short, but very fun post today, inspired by this one right here by Liesl Brunner on her website. She recently shared a whole bunch of stats about the books that she owned, and I thought it looked like such an interesting experiment that I couldn’t help but join in. Thanks, Liesl!

What will we be doing? Well, exploring my bookshelf!

Like Liesl, I went through and counted all of the books I own, divided them into various categories, and entered all the stats into pie charts just for your viewing pleasure, haha.

How many books do I own?

Turns out, it’s 167! This surprised me a bit, but I’m not sure whether I was expecting to own more or less. For years, I just raided the library and my parents’ bookshelves, and it’s only been in the past couple of years that I’ve started accumulating my own collection (mostly from local thrift stores and charity shops, which is why so many of my books are older).

I do have a few books on my shelves that I’ve read and either don’t agree with, or don’t enjoy, so I’ll be thinning them out at some point. But…I haven’t gotten that far yet, haha.

Fiction vs Non-Fiction

I have 66 fiction books, and 101 non-fiction books. As you can tell, for a long time, I was in a non-fiction kick. Recently though, I’ve started emphasizing fiction a bit more, as I notice I’m more motivated to write my own stories when I read others’.

Books By Genre

I have eight distinct genres that I sorted my books into: fantasy, memoir, historical, dystopian, sci-fi, contemporary, Christian (meaning non-fiction Christian books), and uncategorized (anything else – recipe books, writing books, crochet pattern books, etc.)

Fantasy: 14 books

Memoir: 14 books

Historical: 18 books

Dystopian: 19 books

Sci-Fi: 2 books

Contemporary: 10 books

Christian (non-fiction): 61 books

Uncategorized: 40 books

I wasn’t super surprised by these stats actually, as I really like dystopian and historical fiction, read a lot of non-fiction Christian books, and am pretty even on most other genres. Except for poor science fiction, haha. Nothing against it, but it’s usually not my preference.

Books by Target Audience

It seems I’m fairly well-rounded between YA, middle grade, and adult, which I didn’t expect. Uncategorized refers to any books that don’t have a well-established target audience, either because they’re meant for numerous audiences, or are too old to tell.

I had 24 middle grade books, 39 YA books, 26 adult books, and 79 uncategorized.

Books by Classic Status

My lack of classics is disturbing, haha. Only 16 of my books are classics – books that would be considered timeless – with the other 151 books being non-classics.

Paperback vs Hardcover

Again, I was surprised by this! I didn’t expect to have nearly so many hardcovers. I’m guessing I have the thrift shop to thank for that, as it makes hardcovers far cheaper than they are when you order them new. I personally don’t mind them being scuffed if I’m getting them for far less. Still more paperbacks though, which makes sense.

I have 102 paperback books, and 65 hardcover.

My Bookshelf

You’d think that if I’m doing a blog post on my bookshelf, I would have straightened it up and made it look super neat and aesthetic, like the book blogger I aspire to be one day.

But truthfully, though it’s on my to-do list, I didn’t have the time before I wanted to share this post, and I decided to just go for it. After all, I think we all have messy bookshelves sometimes, right?

I try to always be real on my blog, so here’s a very real picture of my current bookshelf:

Some day I will have an aesthetic bookshelf…but today is not that day!

Now, quick disclaimer that I don’t recommend all of these books. I actually plan to thin a few of them out (especially some on the bottom shelves), as there are some that I either don’t agree with, or didn’t enjoy and know that I’ll never read again. So if you have any questions about any of them, just ask, and I’ll be more than happy to share my thoughts!

This was such a fun experiment! Thank you again for inspiring me, Liesl!

What does your bookshelf look like? Do you read more fiction or non-fiction? Do you have a favorite genre? Are most of your books softcover, hardcover – or are you a more digital reader? I’d love to find out more about your favorite books, so feel free to join in, or share your own stats in the comments!

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The Best Books I’ve Read So Far in 2022

Hello and happy Wednesday!

Also, happy Read a New Book Month!

There are many book-related days in September that readers all over are celebrating, and I’ve really enjoyed seeing what everyone has been flipping through lately. I myself am placing a higher priority on reading this month too, as I’m pretty far behind in my reading goal for 2022.

Over on Goodreads, you can keep track of the books you’ve read, review them, read others’ reviews for books you’re interested in, and even set a yearly reading challenge for yourself. I went over my 2021 goal with 54 books, and set myself a goal for 55 books this year. So far, I’m only at 22…

I obviously have some ground to make up, so as I’m getting back into more reading this fall, I wanted to take a look at the books I’ve already read this year and share my very favorites!

Surprisingly, so far I’ve enjoyed all the books I’ve read this year, so choosing favorites was very difficult. I finally decided to narrow it down to just the ones that I was most impacted by and/or feel like I can whole-heartedly recommend to anyone looking for good books – fiction and non-fiction.

(For a full list of what I’ve read this year and my reviews, you can head over here. There have been a lot of great reads lately!)

So with that in mind, here are eight of my favorite reads from 2022 so far!

Just Enough Light for the Step I’m On by Stormie Omartian

Blurb: Do you ever wonder how you can get where you need to go in life and move into the purpose God has for you? During those times when the road ahead seems uncertain, learn to take God’s hand and let Him lead you to places you can’t get to without Him…

…While sharing openly from her personal experience and her strong understanding of God’s Word, Stormie illuminates the way for readers to turn their concerns, trials, worries, and daily needs over to God’s care. 

My Thoughts: This was the perfect, light read for this stage of my life. Highly recommend it to anyone dealing with hardship or uncertainty (which is basically everyone, right? I recommend this book to everyone).

Most importantly, the content was godly, encouraging, inspiring, and a great reminder of how God is always present in our lives – no matter what hardships are shaking us. I enjoyed the author’s style of writing, including her usage of personal anecdotes to illustrate points, and the formatting (Scripture verses at the end of each chapter, and a prayer starter). She was conversational but to the point, comforting but challenging, and her faith in God is very inspiring.

I finished the book with a renewed sense of purpose for this season of waiting and testing in my life, and I’ll definitely be coming back to it in the future!

A Time to Die (Out of Time #1) by Nadine Brandes

Blurb: How would you live if you knew the day you’d die?

Three hundred sixty-four days, seven hours, and sixteen—no, fifteen—seconds left to live. Like everyone else on the east side of the Wall, Parvin Blackwater has a clock counting down the days until her death. At only seventeen, she has only one year left.

When the authorities find out she has been illegally sharing a clock with her twin brother, she is cast through the Wall—her people’s death sentence. What she finds on the other side about the world, about God, and about herself changes Parvin forever and might just save her people. If she can get the word to them before her time runs out. 

My Thoughts: Once again, I’m astounded with Nadine Brandes’ work. (I have yet to read a book of hers that I haven’t really enjoyed.)

Was this book perfect? Of course not; there were some inconsistencies and aspects of the storyline that confused me, but overall, I really enjoyed this story.

The characters, the worldbuilding, the dystopian aspect of it (I’m a sucker for good dystopians), the weaving of faith, the romance subplot (and this from someone who isn’t especially fond of most romance stories), the plot twists…I was sucked in from the start and can’t wait to see how the rest of the series plays out.

The Bruised Reed by Richard SibbesTiny image because that’s the only one I could find, haha.

Blurb: In this famous exposition of Isaiah 42:3, Sibbes unfolds the tender ministry of Jesus Christ, who is ‘a physician good at all diseases, especially at the binding up of the broken heart’.

My thoughts: This small but powerful book was recommended to me by my cousin, and now it’s a favorite. The content was just what I needed at this point in my life and spiritual journey. I highly recommend it to anyone going through difficult times and searching for hope and conviction.

As expected from an older book, the English took me a little while to get into, but once I committed to it, the material gripped me. The author gave some incredibly powerful insights to the Scriptures and helped me understand them in ways I hadn’t before.

The Sacred Search: What If It’s Not about Who You Marry, But Why? by Gary Thomas

Blurb: What if you stopped looking for a “soul mate” and started looking for a “sole mate”—someone who will live out with you the great purpose of God? What if dating isn’t about finding “the one” but making a wise choice so you can better serve the One who loves you most? What if God didn’t design relationships to make you happy but to make you holy? 

In The Sacred Search, Gary Thomas will transform the way you look at romantic relationships. Whether you are single, dating, or engaged, Gary’s unique perspective on dating will prepare you for a satisfying, spiritually enriching marriage even before you walk down the aisle. As Gary reminds us, a good marriage is not something you find—it’s something you make.

My thoughts: First, I highly recommend this book for anyone either in a relationship or looking to be in one some day. My boyfriend and I worked through it together over several months, and gained much-needed info about what it means to date God’s way.

There were so many wonderful insights, conversation-starters, pieces of wisdom, and practical applications of Scripture, and I’m very glad to have read through it. Though naturally any book like this should be read with discretion and plenty of prayer, I didn’t come across anything concerning or heretical at all. Instead, I’m very thankful for the lessons learned from this book!

A Lifting Up for the Downcast by William Bridge

Blurb: These thirteen sermons on Psalm 42:11, preached at Stepney, London, in the year 1648 are the work of a true physician of souls. In dealing with believers suffering from spiritual depression, Bridge manifests great insight into the causes of the saints’ discouragements such as great sins, weak grace, failure in duties, want of assurance, temptation, desertion and affliction.

A correct diagnosis is more than half the cure but Bridge does not leave his readers there. He gives directions for applying the remedy. For example in dealing with ‘great sins’ he says, ‘If you would be truly humbled and not be discouraged; not be discouraged and yet be humbled; then beat and drive up all your sin to your unbelief, and lay the stress and weight of all your sorrow upon that sin.’ The general causes of spiritual depression are the same in every age. Downcast Christians of the twenty-first century can find help here as surely as did past generations.

My Thoughts: Yet another recommendation from my cousin – this was an in-depth, beautifully-written, and profound book about the Christian faith.

In older, Puritan language, it dives deep into the topic of discouragement and doubting for Christians, and over and over again, was exactly what I needed to read. Every section was full of insights I mentally ‘highlighted’, and probably would have actually highlighted if I hadn’t been borrowing the book. It’s also one I think I’ll need to read a few more times to fully digest all the truths inside. I highly recommend it for any believer. We all go through rough times, and this book is helpful through them.

Thirst (Thirst Duology #1) by Jill Williamson

Blurb: A waterborne disease has sprung up in every corner of the globe, decimating the human race. Seventeen-year-old Eli McShane and his friends flee the chaos and violence in Phoenix and journey north toward the rumored location of a safe water source. They add several to their number, including a mysterious girl named Hannah, who, unknown to Eli, is being hunted by a dangerous man.

Desperation brings out the worst in many of the travelers, infecting even those closest to Eli. When division comes, will he be able to hold his group together or will each fall victim to their own thirst for survival?

My Thoughts: As a sucker for Christian fiction, dystopians, and books with dynamic, relatable characters, I was so sucked into this book! I read it in a day, and was completely engrossed start to finish. I haven’t yet read the connected series (this duology is a prequel), but that didn’t seem to matter in understanding the content.

It was its own story, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I had favorite characters (Zach or Eli), least favorite characters (JAYLEE), and a lot of guesses about where the plot was going to go. The pacing was good, there was a lot of suspense, tension, and action, and the entire plotline with the water and comet was very intriguing. I was really looking forward to reading the next book!

Hunger (Thirst Duology #2) by Jill Williamson

Blurb: What do you hunger for?

In the wake of a pandemic, Eli and his friends find a thriving community that offers free housing, food, and thankfully, safe drinking water. But something is amiss. The residents spend most their time partying and attending concerts. No one seems concerned that the virus is still out there. When Eli tries to leave, he discovers a fence has been built to keep him, and everyone else, inside.

Hannah is tired of running. When she is conscripted to work in the hospital, she hopes she’s finally found a place to belong, but Admin’s disregard for a doctor’s pledge to “First do no harm” is unsettling.

As Hannah starts to wonder if she will ever be safe again, Eli clings to his hope for freedom. In a world filled with lies, can they learn to trust each other? Or will their hunger for safety trap them in a world that’s not so safe after all?

My Thoughts: This was a gripping, character-driven, and satisfying finale to a great duology! (My sister already has the connected series on order after finishing this book).

I really enjoyed both of these prequel books, and look forward to carrying on in their world. Though there were some elements of the story that I wished could have wrapped up better, I’m curious to see if they are explained in the later series. Overall though, the characters were relatable and interesting, the action was engaging, and I enjoyed the themes and morals explored. If you like dystopians, give these books a try!

(Caveat that this book had significantly more romance, for better or for worse. It wasn’t quite my thing – high amounts of romance in stories usually isn’t – but it was handled far better than many young adult books these days.)

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

Blurb: Jess Aarons’ greatest ambition is to be the fastest runner in his grade. He’s been practicing all summer and can’t wait to see his classmates’ faces when he beats them all. But on the first day of school, a new girl boldly crosses over to the boys’ side and outruns everyone.

That’s not a very promising beginning for a friendship, but Jess and Leslie Burke become inseparable. Together they create Terabithia, a magical kingdom in the woods where the two of them reign as king and queen, and their imaginations set the only limits.

My Thoughts: I struggle to review this book objectively because it had such an impact on me when I was younger, and I still have strong emotions reading it.

To be fair, it’s not nearly perfect. There are things I would change (longer ending, more character development, and fewer – granted, mild – swears). But as its a middle-grade book, intended to deal with themes of loss, grief, and guilt for younger readers, I still admire what the author accomplished.

I remember relating to Jess in many ways when I was his age, and as I re-read this, I was reminded of why I was drawn to the story so much back then. It’s so real. Again, for better or for worse. I didn’t appreciate how God was portrayed in this, but at the same time, did appreciate the raw look at how many do think of Him. It’s not an easy read by any means, but one that I’m glad I decided to come back to.

What have you been reading so far this year? Do you have any favorites? Have you read any of the books on my list? I’d love to gush about good books with fellow story-lovers, so feel free to chat with me in the comments and let me know what you’re reading!

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2022 August Wrap-Up

Hello and happy Wednesday!

Today’s post brings another summary of the past month of my life – with writing progress reports, reading accomplishments, and general updates!

So without further ado . . .

General Update

Just like last month, in some ways it felt like August flew by, and in other ways it felt like it dragged on forever. Either way, I’m still struggling to believe September is right around the corner. I love autumn weather though, so I’m looking forward to that. The cool air but warm sunshine, changing colors, crisp smells… it’s so beautiful in the fall!

August was full of events, packing them in before the return of fall and all the extra commitments that come with it. My family held a gathering for my brother’s high school graduation, my boyfriend and I celebrated one year of being together and have attempted to get through most of our summer to-do list now that I’ve been nearby again (we went tubing, for walks, to the local zoo, swimming, on a homemade water slide, helped out with my church’s VBS, and played lots of board games). I also turned twenty!

The migraines have been ‘inconsistently consistent’, meaning that I still can’t plan around them very well, but they’ve seemed to be every couple of weeks and lasting around a week to 10 days every time. I’d like to say I’m handling them well and figuring it all out, but they’ve been more of a struggle than I thought, physically and emotionally. That said, I’ve been blessed to notice God working in many meaningful ways, and that’s encouraging.

Fiction Writing

I wrote a lot less fiction than in July, with an August total of 2,127 words. Still, I’m happy to have written anything in addition to all the non-fiction (blog post) writing. My main September goal is to finish my rewrite of Cabin Girl, so hopefully I have a lot more fiction writing to report by the end of next month!

And although I didn’t do much writing for Cabin Girl this month, I did put into practice some of the things I’m learning about in the Publish & Thrive course I’m finishing up. So I’m happy to say I’ve now figured out a detailed publishing timeline for the Cabin Girl series (to be announced in my newsletter soon), and the series actually has its own name now!

Look for The Secretive Seas Series in 2023!

The first book in The Secretive Seas Series!On the Blog

Blogging went pretty well this month! Again, I was able to pre-write most of them at the beginning of August, and then just keep on top of posting and sharing them on time.

Like I said I would at the beginning of the summer, when I switched to posting once or twice weekly as opposed to 2-3 times, I’ve kept careful attention to the new schedule and have decided to stick with it for the foreseeable future. I love writing on this blog, but want to find that perfect balance between writing here, and also writing fiction! After deciding to stick with this schedule, I went ahead and brainstormed most of the posts for this fall, too.

Here are the posts for August (just click on the links to read them):

~ The Remarkable Blogger Tag
~ 2022 July Wrap-Up
~ It’s Okay to Change
~ The Strike Out Challenge
~ Keep Growing (ft. my first stories)
~ 20 Lessons I’ve Learned in 20 Years
~ and this one (no link needed!)

Reading List

Well, reading kind of fell by the wayside this month. I had other priorities and sadly only finished one book (in one night, because my sister and I were loaning it and needed to give it back the next day, haha). Thankfully, I foresee more reading in September – and it’s a good thing because I have so many books I want to get to.

~ The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau
(There was nothing especially unique about this book compared to most popular dystopians, but I happen to like dystopian novels too much to mind, haha. I enjoyed this story, and would have liked to see even more of the characters’ arcs. The backstory was fascinating, the plot intriguing, and the content was mostly clean – definitely a plus!)

Looking Forward

With the return of fall, my schedule is about to explode again, even though I’m not in school. Youth group is starting up again, and as I’m helping with that, it means practicing and attempting to take over leading our worship each week, along with helping out in other areas. School also starts for the children I nanny, as well as a Bible study I attend. All of a sudden my schedule is much fuller, and I didn’t realize that was possible.

On the writing side of things, again, my goal is to finish rewriting Cabin Girl this month. I think that’s pretty doable, but am also reminding myself that any progress is good progress. If life throws too many curveballs and I can’t finish, I’ll still be thrilled with rewriting anything. Rest is another priority of mine, as I notice the migraines get much worse when I don’t. Along with that is making reading a stronger priority. It’s a great way to destress.

Spiritually, I need to emphasize prayer more than ever. I’ve never been an overly anxious person and can usually push worrisome thoughts from my mind before they cause too much trouble. Lately however, I’ve caught myself worrying about when the next migraine might come, and stressing over how unlike myself I feel mentally. I’ve been reminded of how much prayer helps soothe those fears, and that God is right here. Although my circumstances may be changing, He is perfect and unchanging. Hallelujah for that!

What was YOUR August like? What kinds of things did you get to do? If you have a progress report on something, or books you read and would like to share, go ahead and let me know in the comments! And while you’re at it, feel free to include what you’re looking forward to and/or hoping to accomplish in September! As always, I’m excited to hear from you!

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20 Lessons I’ve Learned in 20 Years

Well, it’s official. I’m no longer a teenager.

And it’s about time. Honestly, it feels like I’ve been one for…I don’t know, like seven years.

As is usually the case right after a birthday, I don’t really feel much different. I still look basically the same as I did a year ago, and I’m still mainly the same person. It’s funny how birthdays seem to mean less and less the older we get. (What’s not as funny is how fast time flies!)

The past twenty years have been filled with a lot of lessons, growth, and change – in my life, and in myself. Some have been easy, some have been very difficult, but I can honestly say I’m grateful for all of them.

Would I go back and do some things differently if I could? Probably. But I see how God has used all of it for good, and that brings a lot of peace. I don’t know what’s best, and He does.

I’m not even going to pretend that I’m any sort of expert at life. There’s still so much that I need and want to learn. But in honor of the twenty years of growth that I’ve had so far, I wanted to pause today and share twenty life lessons.

These are lessons I’ve at least started to learn and have had personal experience with. Some of them aren’t very hard for me any more, and some of them are still extremely challenging (and probably will continue to be). But they’re all so important, and I pray that they’re as good of reminders to you as they are to me.

1. Life is Short — Tell Your Loved Ones You Care

The more time passes, the more I realize how fast it’s going. We don’t know how much time we and the people around us have left in this life. We’ll regret what we should have shared but didn’t.

So don’t waste any opportunity to share your love, respect, and affection for someone. You never know just how much your words are going to mean to them. 

2. It’s Okay to Show Emotion

Showing strong emotion is often difficult for many of us. I think it’s a subconscious way some people try to protect themselves from hurt (i. e. “if I don’t show it, it can’t be used against me”).

But the trouble with guarding our hearts is that it’s harder to let things into them then — even the good things. We’re made to feel emotion and be impacted. That’s how we grow, and also grow closer to one another. We shouldn’t be afraid to let that happen.

3. The Little Things Matter

Whether this means keeping good habits and taking care of ourselves, or telling family we love them, the little things sometimes make the biggest difference. It doesn’t have to be huge to make a positive impact. 

I always gravitate toward big, dramatic changes and accomplishments. But those can get overwhelming, and I end up discouraged if I can’t keep up with them. Remembering to focus on the little things keeps me moving forward.

4. There’s Always Something to Be Thankful For

Admittedly, I’m a pessimist. I don’t like it, but that’s who I am. I’m naturally more critical, notice what can go wrong, and generally expect difficult things to happen. Sometimes I’m a very depressing person to be around.

What I too often forget is that there are always countless things to be thankful for — small and big. All I need to do is keep my eyes open and actually look for them. Focusing on the blessings can make any day (and my mood) instantly better. 

5. Don’t Forget to Turn the Coffee Maker On

Maybe you thought these were all going to be deeper and more introspective. Nope, we have to sprinkle these lighter ones in here! But I’d still argue that this is also important. The amount of times I’ve “started” my coffee maker, gone to do other chores, then returned to it still unplugged is ridiculous. 

Along with turning it on, don’t forget to add coffee grounds, water, the mug to fill (if it’s that kind of coffee maker), and clean it periodically to flush out the lime build-up and other yucky stuff. Thank you for coming to my coffee lecture.

6. Laughter Really Is the Best Medicine

Everyone says this, don’t they? And I think it’s passed around so often for a reason — it’s true! Like I said earlier, I’m not a naturally optimistic or cheerful person all the time, and looking on the bright side isn’t my first inclination in hard times. 

But time and time again, it’s been shown that laughter makes things better. Finding a reason to smile and be joyful — in difficult situations, too — betters our health, moods, relationships, and even careers. It often takes an intentional decision to find something to smile about, but it always helps. 

7. Friends Come and Go

In the moment, we don’t often think of this. But friends come and go in our lives, many of them changing with the seasons of our lives. Our best friend one day may no longer be in contact with us years down the road, and someone we never noticed before may be our dearest companion now. 

It’s not typically a fun transition, and can be very painful. But the right people will come into our lives when we need them. Ultimately, it’s for our good. So we need to fully enjoy the people that have been placed near us right now.

8. Appreciate Life’s Beauty

As the saying goes: “stop and smell the roses”. This is another thing I’m not very good at doing. I don’t often take the time in my day to stop and recognize the beauty around me. But I should, and when I do, it really helps my mindset. Life is tough, definitely, but we live in a beautiful world.

It’s easy to find the things we don’t like about our surroundings, or the people we know. But it’s far better to look for the things we do like, the things that bring us joy, and the beautiful parts of nature and people. And when it comes to people, not just external beauty. Look for and appreciate the beauty inside. 

9. Listen More Than Speaking

This is a common reminder, for good reason. Have you ever heard the saying, “God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason?” It’s a good point! There aren’t enough good listeners in the world, and people are searching for someone to just listen to them, and let them know they’re valued. 

I want to be that sort of person, that others can come to and know that they have a safe space and someone to love them no matter what they’re going through. Sometimes words — no matter how well-intentioned — aren’t the right course of action. All we need to do is be present and listen.

10. Being a Fool is Okay

Did you know that one of the original meanings of the word ‘fool’ was referring to a jester? A jester would entertain the king with humor, silly antics, and slapstick bumbling. Next to nothing was off the table if it lightened the king’s spirits. 

So it’s okay to be a fool (of this kind). My sense of humor prefers corny dad jokes, groanworthy puns, and physical antics to raise people’s moods. And I’m still learning that it truly is okay — even if I look like a fool — to be silly for the benefit of others. 

11. You Can Be Good At Many Things — And an Expert at None

While I was growing up, I wanted to be countless things when I was older. But as time passed, I convinced myself that that wasn’t realistic; that I’d need to pick one and master it to be a success. The pressure of choosing wrong was hard to handle. How was I supposed to narrow down all my interests?

But it’s perfectly okay to develop skills and have hobbies in multiple areas, and in fact, it’s a good idea. We don’t have to master something to still do it well and make a career or fulfilling hobby from it. And though we’re naturally better at some things than others, we don’t have to — and can’t — be perfect at anything. 

12. Don’t Judge By First Impressions

We all know the saying, “don’t judge a book by its cover.” But we all do, don’t we? And just like we initially judge a book from its cover, we also tend to judge people from their outward appearances. We make snap judgements and form opinions of others even before we hear them speak or interact with them. 

And while we may learn some things from this initial judgement, we can’t know the whole story until we actually get to know the person. What we learn from interacting with them and talking to them may shock us, and be the last thing we expected. We can never know what someone’s truly like at a glance.

13. Everyone Has a Story

I’ve said this many times, and that’s because I really believe it. Everyone has a story — it’s true. Each of us has a unique, powerful, gripping, and interesting story to tell, even if we don’t realize it. Your unique life is uniquely beautiful. And so are the stories of everyone you pass on the street or smile at in a store. 

Sometimes we forget this and don’t bother getting to know someone or really listen to them — instead, making snap judgements, being cruel, or ignoring them. But we can learn so much from one another, and what we need to do is have open hearts and arms. What have the people around you lived through? 

14. People Are More Important Than Things

This seems obvious when said like that, but sometimes we still get caught up in the pursuit of money, things, or experiences that we feel will make our lives, and the lives of those around us, better. But what if what would really make all those lives better is to just spend time with our loved ones instead?

Too often, I get caught up in trying to accomplish things or earn more, and forget to prioritize the people in my life. Indirectly, I think I’m doing it for them, but what they really want is for me to just pay attention to them. Most people would choose to spend time with their loved one, rather than be given expensive gifts or live somewhere fancy because they’re always off working.

15. Don’t Feel Bad About Resting

Like I said above, sometimes I get caught up in accomplishing things and reaching goals, and don’t feel like I can stop and rest. Resting can feel like a waste of time; like I’m just being lazy. If I’m not careful, doing something fun can actually be stressful, because I think I should still be working instead. 

Of course, rest and fun things can be used to procrastinate, but deep down, I think we all know when we’ve crossed that line. In general, we need to balance our work with relaxation. If we don’t rest, we’re only going to do damage to our minds, bodies, and relationships with others. We’re not machines (last I checked, anyway).

16. Learn From Children

This seems kind of backwards at first glance, doesn’t it? Aren’t we supposed to be the ones teaching children about life and manners? Well, yes, but we can learn much from them as well. Lessons about innocence, friendship, acceptance, joy, and appreciating the beauty and good things in life. 

Children are so uninhibited, and while that can be a handful at times, there’s also something precious about it. They don’t care what others think. They’re not trying to be anything but themselves (and maybe a dog or dragon, sometimes). And we love them for it. I think we could all stand to be a bit more like children sometimes. 

17. Do What You Love

Although I’d love to use this tip and tell you that we don’t ever have to do things we dislike again, only things we love, I sadly can’t. We can’t only do things we love, at least not this side of Heaven. So when we have the chance, we should seize it. I’m referring to some of the smaller things in life that are up to us. 

For example, when exercising, if you hate running but love dancing, why force yourself to do something you dislike? Dance! What does it matter if you’re not even very good at it, or if other people think you shouldn’t. Find the opportunities that you have to bring joy into your life, and you’ll have an easier time dealing with the stress when unwanted tasks come your way. 

18. Prioritize Health, Not Image

Speaking of exercise, it can be all too easy to fixate on our looks. We see other people we think look better than us, we compare, we agonize over the fact that we don’t look like we want to…and in the process, we can make many unhealthy choices. In trying to look better on the outside, we can become more and more troubled and twisted on the inside. 

But being healthy is far more important than looking a certain way. We want to be strong, persistent, full of energy, fit, and able to do whatever amazing things we’re called to in life. A healthy person is always beautiful, but a beautiful person may not always be healthy, if they’re solely focused on the outside. Health should be the priority. 

19. Be Patient

This is a lesson I was blessed to learn from my late brother, a kind young man with a smile nearly as big as his heart. He had severe Cerebral Palsy, and couldn’t do much for himself. Physically, he didn’t have the same capabilities as many of us, and spent a lot of time waiting for others to help him. He must have at some point, but I never once saw him get impatient.

We’re (ironically) so quick to grow antsy and frustrated when things take longer than we want. We want instant gratification, first picks, and shorter lines. But some of the most beautiful, meaningful moments happen when we make the most of those waiting times. Slowing down to notice what’s going on in the midst of them can lead to opportunities we never expected.

20. Always Keep Learning

As I’ve said before, I still have much to learn. In the grand scheme of things, twenty years really isn’t that long. And from what I’ve heard, even after three times that much life, I won’t know even close to everything. But that’s okay. I like learning. 

No matter how long we’ve lived, where we are in life, or what we’ve experienced, we can — and should — always learn more. The more we learn, the more we can grow. So we should strive to keep our eyes, ears, hearts, and minds open, and soak up all the wisdom we can get. We’re going to need it. 

Even though I still hardly know anything in the grand scheme of things, these twenty lessons have made a big difference in my life so far. What would you add? Are there lessons and truths you’ve had experience with over your lifetime? I’d love to learn from you, so please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!

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Keep Growing (ft. my first stories)

Hello and happy Wednesday!

I’ve been sharing a lot about change and growth this month. As I reach some new milestones, and the ends of some things I’ve been part of for years, I’ve been thinking a lot about various aspects of my life. Today, it’s my writing.

It’s amazing how much our writing changes over time, isn’t it? The more we write, the more we improve, and often, looking back years later can be an…interesting experience. Meaning that I spend most the time cringing. Can you relate?

I don’t often look back at my early writing (for cringing reasons), but every once and a while, I’ll let myself reread some of my first stories. It’s interesting to see the things that I struggled with at first, and the things that have always been easier for me. The topics I’ve always been interested in, and the topics or genres I still haven’t tried, even after years.

Thankfully, I’ve grown a lot as a writer. And I’d like to think the topics and genres I write in now are far more interesting than the ones I stuck to when I was younger – mostly. I’m not still writing The Little Mermaid fanfictions and book after book about girls that get horses and miraculously know how to ride better than anyone else in the area.

I do still have a fondness for stories set in the Star Wars world however…and all my stories have some sort of tragedy. But that’s what’s interesting about looking back. Seeing those trends can be a lot of fun.

As a random example of how entertaining it can be to look back at our old writing, I thought I’d share with you several of my very first stories today, written when I was around 4-6 years old. I hope you find them as ridiculous and quirky as I do, haha. And for further entertainment, I haven’t cleaned them up much. Just spelling and formatting, but none of the words have been changed.

Thankfully, I was young enough that I don’t cringe too much when I read these, I just find them funny. To start with, young me was very into writing stories with good lessons (an interesting trait that’s carried over!), and those usually took the form of parables. The first one is about a talkative ladybug…

The Ladybug

Once there was a ladybug who loved to talk so much that her nickname was Talking Taily.

Taily talked and talked and talked. All her friends almost never got to talk to Taily.

But Taily’s best friend was Baily. She only listened to her friend.

Then one day, Taily and Baily were playing in a tree when a crow flew toward them. They hid.

Baily kept quiet but poor Taily, she talked and the crow swooped down and ate Taily and that was the end of Talking Taily.

Meaning: Too much talking can get you into trouble.

(I’m pretty sure this one came from a lesson I was taught a lot as a child…and this is how I incorporated it into my writing. The people I’ve shared it with recently have found it very funny that a four year old ended a story this way. Apparently I’ve never been afraid to hurt my main characters! I also think I was inspired by Max Lucado’s Hermie and Friends.)

Lying Lily

Once there lived a frog named Lily. And she loved to lie.

One day, as she was hopping in the marsh, she heard something.

“Come here!”

She followed the voice to a tall tree.

“Please, Miss, pour water on me. No one has been watering me.”

Lily wanted to go play so she said, “tomorrow,” and hopped away.

Then, next morning when she went to the tree, it said, “Please, Miss, water me. I’m so dry!”

But Lily said, “tomorrow.”

And on the third day, again, the tree begged, “please, I can not make it one more day.”

But Lily said: “You can make one more. I will water you tomorrow.”

But then the next day, when Lily went to the tree, it had dried up and died.

“Poor tree. I should have watered it the first time. Now he’s gone,” Lily said.

Meaning: Lying can make bad things happen. God says it would be better to cut your tongue off than tell a lie.

(I think this one also applies to procrastination and not following up on your promises. And again, it features a main character dying at the end… and an unlikeable protagonist, too. I was never fond of that frog, haha. After all, it says she loved to lie! Even though she seems more irresponsible and lazy to me than malicious.)

The Girl Who Had a Horse

Once there was a girl named Jane.

She lived in the forest with her father, mother, sister, and brother. They had special times.

One day, her father said she was ready to have a horse. So they went to the store to get one. So when she had a horse, she and they rode it.

When it was time for bed, Jane went to check on her horse one last time. When her father called her in, she kissed her horse good night.

And that night, Jane dreamed about her horse when suddenly (!!) she heard a thump. She jumped up.

It was a robber! He was stealing her horse! She ran into her father’s room and woke him up. He grabbed his musket and ran outside. And after two hours, they finally caught him.

They they trapped him and went to bed, laying on the robber. Then, next morning, she went out to ride her horse.

Rustle. What? She peeked inside the bush.

“Boo!” Her brother jumped out. “Want to play ball?”

“Nah, not right now. Get Sally to play with you.”

“Okay. Sally?”

(There’s an illustration here of Sally sitting on Jane’s horse, telling it to “giddyup.” Apparently Jane got off? And neither she or her brother saw Sally get on. They’re elsewhere, looking for her.)

Sally did not mean to: she got the horse wild. So when she got on, Jane was surprised, her horse started bucking. “Oh no!” Jane fell down, and twisted her whole arm the wrong way.

They took her to the hospital. There were lots of people. The doctor did the stuff he needed to do, then he said: “She will have to stay here for three days, sorry. She has a broken arm.”

So they made a cozy, little room for Jane. They put her arm in a cast.

After three days, she was back home. She was nineteen years old. Time to go get married…that stuff. There was one boy: Jon.

So the wedding was May 27th. The mother, father, sister, and brother came. It was great.

Oh, and we must not forget: the END.

(Cue an illustration of all the characters saying bye, and the horse saying neigh.)

(I don’t even have words for this one, haha! From going to the store to get a horse, to laying on a robber to keep him trapped, to healing a broken arm in three days, to suddenly switching plots to a wedding all because she was nineteen now – the age of marriage apparently – this is…not one of my finer works. But it does make me laugh!)

And those are just three of my earliest, most entertaining stories. From there, I began to branch into chapter stories, with slightly more advanced plots. But only very slightly more advanced. It wasn’t until I was ten that I wrote my first novel (shorter than an official novel wordcount, but still a good length), and from then on, I haven’t stopped writing full books.

I’d like to think my stories are a little bit more advanced now though! And maybe a tad more realistic. And not as hard to read…

The interesting thing is that I will probably look back at my current novels in a few years, and think that my current writing is seriously lacking. At least, I hope I’ll have improved even more by then. And I think that’s part of the beauty of writing.

We’re always continuing to learn, grow, improve, and write better stories and articles. We may write some entertaining stuff starting out, but it’s only by making the mistakes that we learn how to correct them.

But even in our earliest works, we all have things we’re naturally better at. Aspects of writing that we gravitate to. Genres that we enjoy writing most. It can be a lot of fun to look back and notice those areas later on, realizing that we still continue to write like that.

I’ve always liked writing stories with lots of dialogue and characters, dramatic ‘sad’ events, good morals and life lessons, and twisty plots. I’ve never been great at descriptions, being subtle, grammar (and not just before I learned it, haha), or crafting especially realistic story events. Even from a young age, I can see what comes more naturally to me, and what I still struggle with. That’s pretty cool, in my opinion.

My very first writing notebook, given to me by my dad, and containing the above stories!

Well, this has been a fun expedition into my early writing, and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did! I’m extremely grateful that my writing has improved at least slightly now, fifteen years later, haha. Thanks for joining me on my journey into my first writing days!

So what do YOUR earliest stories look like? What things have you always gravitated toward, and what has been harder for you? Can you identify that in your early writing? I’d love to hear about it – and if you’re inclined, I’d always love to read some of your early writing! Feel free to share in the comments!

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