Wanted: Your Opinions!

According to my planned autumn schedule, I'm supposed to be sharing a "Moved by a Movie" post with you tomorrow. As it is, I watched a couple of movies recently that I could have posted about, but I've been kind of busy and I wasn't overly motivated. (Although the two I was contemplating were great ones, which I've posted reviews for already!)

So, you get this random post instead. I hope you don't mind!

Included in this post is a question, a schedule, and a discussion.

A Question

Which would you prefer for my Friday posts - "Moved by a Movie" posts or "Fall Friday" posts? Or maybe book discussions? (See third topic below.)

I'm thinking about maybe doing fall/autumn themed posts on Fridays (like I somewhat did last year) and doing some "Moved by a Movie" posts every once in a while (I guess when I'm actually "moved"...). Sorry for the indecisiveness! If you have a preference or any other suggestions, please share your thoughts!

A Schedule

Since it's been several months since I've shared my fall semester 2011 schedule with you, I thought I'd share it officially today so you can see what I'll be studying. Maybe I'll be inspired during my mid-week days to write posts about them sometime!

• Civil War Era (History) (M, W,F)

• History of Modern Africa (M, W, F)

• Pilates/Cardio (M, W)

• Shakespeare (M, W, F)

• Women of Faith (T, TH)

• Personality Theory (T, TH)

A Discussion

As for the discussion, I guess this is more a question of whether you would like to do a discussion or not. ;) If you could vote on the poll below, that would be great! Thank you!

Mystery Week: Please cast your votes!

This is my first time creating a survey with Google Docs, and I'm excited to try it out! If you could fill out this brief, 4-question survey, I would really appreciate it! That way, you have a say in what we focus on this next week. =)

Note: In the questions, the phrase "this week" refers to "Mystery Week," which is scheduled for July 18-22nd (next week). Hope that makes sense! Feel free to ask me any questions in the comments section!

Winner and Poll!

The winner of Gate to Nowhere is...

Bluerose!

Congratulations! Be on the lookout for my e-mail. =)

If you missed the fun interview between the author, Leanna Sain, and her book's heroine, Emma Franklin, feel free to click HERE and take a look! And be sure to check out my review of Gate to Nowhere, as well!

Also, in case you haven't yet seen the new poll I added to the sidebar, I'm asking for your opinion on what themed week you might be interested to see in the next month (along with Camp Humility!). I'd love to have your input! Thank you!

My Review of Dracula

Read For: 19th-20th Century English Literature class

My Review:

My grandpa has often told me about reading Dracula and/or Frankenstein when he was in school, noting how much he enjoyed the setting descriptions of one or the other. I have not read Frankenstein, but after having now read Dracula by Bram Stoker I have to agree that this book is full of vivid, haunting descriptions of landscapes and graveyards. But the setting isn't the only haunting aspect of this book.

From the very beginning I was drawn into a horrifying story that is at once intriguing and engaging. I tend to be the kind of person that is easily bothered by certain books or movies. In high school, one of the books that bothered me the most was Lord of the Flies. Yet even though this book has gruesome and fearsome aspects to it, I found that I was invested in the story and enjoyed it, as much as this sort of "horror" story can be enjoyed.

The book is written in a different sort of way--as documentation of a series of events, including diary/journal entries, phonograph recordings (transcribed), letters, telegrams, and newspaper clippings. As much as this style would seem to stifle tension and bar reader involvement, the opposite was true for me. Everything was organized in a way that made me want to read more and find out what would happen next, and there was a lot of dialogue written in the accounts. (I don't know how these characters could remember so much!)

This is a somewhat longer and convoluted tale, but it is certainly very interesting. It was especially interesting to me to find out more about the legend of the vampire--very creepy! Even the first few chapters are filled with chilling and intense scenes that set the stage for an epic battle of good vs. evil.

As for the meanings in the book, suffice it to say that it's taught in a college literature class for a reason. There are numerous critical theories about the themes of the book, some of which we've already discussed in our 19th-20th Century English Literature class, including sexuality, inverse biblical symbolism, etc. I don't know which theme is necessarily "right," but I do know that the book is well-written and thought-provoking, filled with symbolism and complex characters.

I was kept in suspense until the very end, and when I finished the final note it was with a mixed sense of relief, accomplishment, and unease that I closed the book. I am glad that I have read it and I think some might be surprised if they pick up this book, in that they might like it more than they originally thought. However, I can't say for sure how each person would react, and along with my recommendation I give a warning that this book has some grotesque, strange, and disturbing scenes and images that might not be suitable for all readers.

P.S. Did you like this review? Would you be interested in reading some other book reviews of well-known literature on this blog? I'd love to hear your thoughts! Just vote in the poll in the sidebar and/or leave a comment below.

P.P.S. Have my posts become too cluttered and random lately? Would you prefer to have a more strict schedule (ie: book reviews on certain days, etc.), or do you enjoy a bit of unpredictability on the blog?

The Readers Have Spoken

I know that's a pretty intense title for a blog post announcing the results of a poll, but I think it's kind of fun. Brings back happy memories of Christmas and our Wizard of Oz ornament that says various phrases, the last one being, "The Great Oz has spoken." ;)

So what did you, the readers, have to say? Well, half of the 10 voters declared their preference of doing a book discussion on Courting Morrow Little, so with the greatest amount of votes Courting Morrow Little by Laura Frantz wins! I look forward to discussing this amazing, beautiful book with all of you! I'm not sure yet of the exact date of the discussion, but I think it will probably be within the next week or so.

Also, I have another exciting announcement. The winner of Fatal Judgment is Katy! Congratulations!

As for the coming days, I hope to have some more book reviews for you, as well as a link to my first blog post on The Borrowed Book (Monday). And don't forget that the Season of Love Blog Party starts on Monday!!! Believe me, you won't want to miss out on this!

Help Wanted; Prize Offered

Dear Friends,

Some of you may recall my attempt last year to start a new feature entitled "Sightseeing by the Seasons." I'm here to let you know that while this feature hasn't had it's time to shine yet, I haven't given up. But in order to make this feature a reality, I need your help!

What I need from you is some assistance in finding various out-of-the-way, small town shops and businesses that I can spotlight on my blog. Each person who successfully gets me connected/in contact with one of these locally owned and operated-type businesses will be entered in a drawing. The prize? Well, if you take a look to the right of the screen you should see a poll near the top of the sidebar. Whichever prize gets the most votes is the prize you can win! (However, I will certainly be open to hearing which of these prizes the winner specifically wants to win; mainly, the poll will help me know which prizes my readers would like to win in the future.)

Right now I'm looking for some winter and spring-related businesses. Some examples would be year-round Christmas stores, rural garden shops, small town florists, lodges/restaurants, etc. Feel free to be creative in your connections to the seasons!

Here are the rules to be entered in the drawing:

• Leave a comment or e-mail me with the name and contact information of a business that fits the criteria mentioned in the paragraph above. If you know the shop (etc.) owner personally and could get the business to e-mail me, so much the better!
• Only those who successfully get me in contact with a business that I can and will feature on this blog will be entered. (If I never hear back from the business, that entry won't count.)
• You can enter as many times as you like! One entry for each business I can interview and feature on my blog.
• If I find more than 5 businesses to feature on my blog in the coming months, I will pick 2 winners instead of just 1!
• The drawing closes Friday, January 21st, and the winner(s) will be announced on Saturday, January 22nd.

If you talk to the business owners first, feel free to direct them to my blog--to the "Sightseeing by the Seasons" page. There is a description of the feature there. In entering this drawing, you can either e-mail me, leave a comment on the feature's page, or leave a comment here. If the business owner(s) contact me in your place, just have them let me know who told them about the feature.

Thank you very much for your help! I look forward to working with you to promote the small town businesses we love and to journey across America (and maybe Canada) together!

Sincerely,
The Blog Author

*Update: The giveaway winner(s) announcement has been postponed until further notice. Entries will still be accepted until that announcement.*

Oh, the Possibilities of Pages!

I know I've been posting a lot recently (mostly due to my recent infatuation with the PBS Masterpiece Mystery version of Sherlock Holmes!), but I just had a few questions to run by you, my readers, while I'm on this blogging spree. ;)

As you may already know, not long ago I discovered that I can add "Pages" to my blog, where I can add separate information on a page that is still part of my blog but in a different location from the main page where all my posts are. I love seeing how other people organize their pages and what information they believe deserves its own page.

For example, Ruth over at Booktalk & More has a separate page for all her different kinds of reviews. She has a page for book reviews from A through M; book reviews from N through Z; reviews for Masterpiece Classic, Contemporary, and Mystery shows; etc. I love organization, and I think that is a fabulous idea to make it easier for the readers to navigate through her reviews! Rel over at Relz Reviewz has a somewhat similar layout, with pages for book reviews, author interviews, etc. (Both of these ladies have great blogs, so be sure to go and visit them!)

My browsing has led me to wonder...what would you all like to see for my different pages? I think it's important to have pages with information about me, my rating system, the poem that inspired this blog title, and my blog awards. However, do you like having pages about my different features, as well (such as "Mondays for the Military" and "Sightseeing by the Seasons")? Would it be helpful to you if I included pages with organized links to my book reviews and movie reviews? Or do I have too many pages as it is?

I would love to hear your thoughts! As an added incentive and as a way for me to say thank you for your feedback, I'll give away my gently used copy of The Waiting by Suzanne Woods Fisher OR Love's First Bloom by Delia Parr (winner's choice)! Simply leave your e-mail address in your comment along with your choice of the book you'd like to have if you win. (Note: You must have a U.S. or Canadian mailing address.) I'll pick a winner sometime next week. (Since I've been watching a mystery show lately, let's just leave the specific date of the drawing as a mystery to go along with that theme.) Thank you in advance for your time!

Also, I'd appreciate it if you would vote on the new poll! It will help me with some more blog organization ideas.

Launch of a New Post Series

In the tradition of Country magazine, Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives hosted by Guy Fieri, and the "Love Finds You" Christian fiction book series, "Seasons of Humility" brings you Sightseeing by the Seasons (working title). With this new post series, readers will have the opportunity to tour across America, visiting the back-roads and out-of-the-way places you've always wanted to travel to or won't want to miss in future journeys. Each business featured will be seasonal--like orchards and farms for the fall, Christmas shops for the winter, etc. So please join me in celebrating the seasons and supporting those unique small town business we love!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What do you think? Above is the culmination of my latest brainstorming with my wonderful dad. It has been so much fun running ideas by him and talking about where this new feature could go!

Now I'm asking you, my faithful readers, what you think of the idea. Does it sound appealing to you? Would you be willing to help me in the future by letting me know what places you would like to see featured (and helping me get in contact with the owners in order to do an interview)? We're talking about anything from road-side stands to Bed and Breakfasts to small town stores. I'm so excited about the possibility of taking a continuous road-trip with all of you! This would not necessarily be a weekly feature--it would be a surprise as to when each new place would be featured (depending on participation, etc.).

Let me know what you think! I really value your opinions! If you don't have time to leave a comment, feel free to simply vote on the poll in the sidebar. Thank you!

Lost in Thought

I'm hoping the picture of me above gives the impression of being lost in thought. Maybe it will also give the impression that I could use some extra thinkers today--because I need your help!

A recent poll showed that out of the 4 people who voted, 2 were "mostly" enjoying the new weekly schedule, and 2 were "very much" enjoying the new weekly schedule. What I would like to know is:

• What parts of the new weekly schedule do you most like? (See sidebar for an overview of the schedule.)
• What parts do you not like as much?
• Do you have any suggestions for improvement?

The funny thing is, I get so caught up in putting things together and planning for the future that I forget that some of the best posts and ideas come spontaneously. Those serendipitous moments can be wonderful, and I want to be sure and leave room for those. In fact, I had a moment like that last night, and I would be delighted if you would take the time to read my last post, "Touched by an Epitaph."

But do you still like the idea of having some sort of schedule in between themed weeks? I would appreciate any and all feedback on my blog! Thank you for sticking by me!

True Love Tuesday

Based on the poll I had going the last few days, I think you can guess what today's topic is: the "Love Finds You" series!

There's so much to love about the "Love Finds You" books! Not only do they take us to various locations across the United States, to places with great and memorable names, but they also take us through various periods of time, from the Old West to World War II to modern day. And the overall message of the series title is a lovely reminder: "Love Finds You" anywhere!

God's love is not limited by either time or space (or anything else, for that matter!). Our love for each other should be unlimited, as well. If we truly love someone else, we'll love them no matter how far away they are and no matter how much time goes by, because love "beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things" (1 Corinthians 13:7).

Of all the "Love Finds You" books I've read, I think my two favorites so far are Love Finds You in Hershey, Pennsylvania and Love Finds You in Lahaina, Hawaii.

Love Finds You in Hershey, Pennsylvania reminds us that true love forgives and doesn't give up on the other person. Yes, we hurt each other. We all mess up; we all sin. But just as God forgives us, so we must forgive each other. That's a wonderful lesson to learn, and one I need to remember to take to heart!

To read my review of this great book, click HERE.

Love Finds You in Lahaina, Hawaii reminds us (at least through the contemporary strand) that true love sees the person for who they really are. Love should look at who the person is in their soul; love should not focus primarily on the outward appearances. First Samuel 16: 7 says, "But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." And that's what we should strive to do, as well. Again, it's easier said than done, but we should always try our best, through God's grace, to love as He loves.

To read my review of this enthralling book, click HERE. (Because there are two strands--contemporary and historical--in this story, there's lots to take from it, so I just picked one idea!)

I'm excited because I have two more "Love Finds You" books already in my TBR stack! I'm planning on starting Love Finds You in Victory Heights, Washington next. I love these stories, and I'm curious: which "Love Finds You" books are your favorites so far? What have you learned about true love from them?

Oh, and I'll share the poll results with you! The question was: "Which state would you like to see as the next setting for a 'Love Finds You' book?" The results were as follows:

• Arizona (0--0%)
• Louisiana (2--40%)
• Maine (1--1%)
• New York (1--20%)
• Wyoming (0--0%)
• Other (1--20%)

I guess we have so many of those wonderful Wild Wests settings that we are curious to hear more about those Southern and Eastern states! ;) Louisiana won, and I have to say that I wouldn't mind a "Love Finds You" book with some Cajun flavor!

If the person who voted "Other" is willing, I'm interested to see what other state you had in mind!

Can't wait to hear your thoughts on true love and the "Love Finds You" series!

Winners and New Blog Ideas!

Gifts are a special part of Christmas-time, so for the last official day of "Christmas in July" I am thrilled to announce the winners of three different giveaways! =)

Quick Note: For Julie Lessman's giveaway, those who didn't leave an e-mail address (if I did not already know the e-mail address of the person) were not entered in the drawing. I apologize if I didn't make it more clear, but I'll try to clarify more in the future. As for the other drawings, I'm getting kind of confused on who wants to be entered or not, so in future drawings I'll try to remember to only enter those who say they want to be entered and leave their e-mail addresses. Again, I'm so sorry for the confusion! Also, I used Random.org's List Randomizer when picking the winners for these drawings.




The winner of her choice of one of Julie Lessman's books is . . .

Bekka!








The winner of the "Christmas in July" Giveaway is . . .

Julia!







The winner of my 100th Post Giveaway is . . .

Bluerose!





Congratulations to all of the winners! Be looking for my e-mail and please respond ASAP! Thank you! And to those of you who didn't win these giveaways, be sure and check in often--you never know when there will be another one. =)

Thank you so much to all of you for your comments and for visiting my blog! The post with Julie Lessman's interview garnered the most comments I've ever had on one post! I'm so grateful for your enthusiasm.

Now, for the other part of this post! I've been thinking a lot about having my own weekly posts (ones that are repeated every week according to the theme of that day). So I've come up with a list of potential ideas that I would love to hear your thoughts on!

Below I will describe each of the possibilities, and then I would greatly appreciate it if you would pick your top three favorites and let me know in the comments section. I'll probably end up using three or four of these, and I'll make a final decision within the next couple of weeks. I will take the your comments into consideration when making my choice. =)

CHOICES:

Sundays by the Sea: The ocean is a beautiful and mysterious part of God's creation, and I have been blessed to live close to the Pacific Ocean my whole life. For "Sundays by the Sea" I would post devotional thoughts inspired by the sea, drawing from my own experiences and from movies/books which are set on the sea.

True Love Tuesdays: This is for the romantic at heart! On "True Love Tuesdays" we would discuss examples of true love from books, movies, and real life. This would also be an opportunity to share romantic quotes,along with recommendations for clean romantic books and movies.

Winter Wednesdays: To go along with the title and purpose of this blog, "Winter Wednesdays" would be an opportunity to share encouraging thoughts with each other for those times when we're in the winter of our "Seasons of Humility." We all could use some support and comfort for the hard times, as well as reminders of God's sovereignty and plan for our lives.

Travel Thursdays: This would be an opportunity to share where we've traveled in real life, or where we've traveled through the pages of a book. There's much to learn about different places in this vast world, so "Travel Thursdays" would be a fun way to find out more about those places!

Furry Friends Fridays: Many of us are the proud owners of adorable pets! "Furry Friends Fridays" would be days set aside to share fun anecdotes about our four-legged friends. And while I'm at college, I'll either be able to share about the creatures I see on the nature trail or elsewhere on campus, or I could share some of my cute memories of my own pets (from the past and the present!).

Sharing a Smile Saturdays: I've actually implemented this one several times already, so I can continue this if everybody likes it! "Sharing a Smile Saturdays" are meant to make you laugh or at least smile, and the posts can be about jokes, funny college stories, or practically anything that's smile-worthy!

OK, you've seen the choices! (And yes, I realize there wasn't one for Monday. I didn't come up with anything clever for Mondays, so I guess those days will be reserved for reviews or rest!) And I should also say that these posts will only be for those weeks that are not already themed weeks. (For example, I would not do these weekly-themed posts for the "Reading Retreats" Week or the "End of Summer Bash.")

*New update: This morning I went to a MOAA (Military Officers Association of America) meeting at our local Coast Guard station, and I was blessed to have my dad share the videos I had put together from our experiences at Washington D.C. I am so grateful for the United States military, and it was while I was in the car a while after the meeting that an idea came to me. The one day I hadn't come up with a theme for was Monday--and I have a strong desire within me to honor the military in some way. So I'm going to have Mondays for the Military: a day set aside to pray for and in some way remember the U.S. military and the sacrifices they make. This day will not be an option to vote on because I want to implement it no matter what. =) But please feel free to express your ideas on the other options!*

I thank you again for taking the time to look through this and share your thoughts! Have a wonderful weekend!

Gone on Vacation

I'm hitting the road tomorrow! I've been looking forward to what's become our annual vacation to Sunriver, Oregon. We always have so much fun as a family (my grandparents, my parents, my sister, and me), and I also appreciate the quiet time. =) Sunriver is a beautiful place, and I can't wait to ride my bike, see the sights, read, etc. I'm so glad for times of rest!

However, I've decided not to do any blogging while I'm gone. I think it will be good to take a break--and that way I won't be distracted from spending quality time with God and my family!

I'll miss you all, though! You are such dear friends to me, and I've really enjoyed having my own blog! Your comments touch my heart, and I'm so thankful that you take the time to follow my blog. You are all so wonderful!

Before I go, though, I thought I would tie up some loose ends:

First, the poll results are in! There were 14 people who voted, and (of the places I listed) the place you all most want to visit is . . . Ireland! Ireland received 5 votes. Coming in at a close second was Italy (with 4 votes). Third went to England (2 votes); and Hawaii, Germany, and Israel tied for fourth with 1 vote each. Europe seems to be the favored continent for travel destinations!

Second, it looks like the Washington D.C. trip isn't working out. :( It's not for sure that it won't happen, but I think it would be best to accept the inevitable in this case. However, as a college student, I won't mind having more time at home! And since I won't have "Washington D.C. Week," I'm happy to do another themed week in its place. That being said, I would (again!) love your input on which theme you would prefer. The poll is in the sidebar. Thanks!

Third, after having the big "Birthday Story Bash" week here on my blog with a Toy Story theme, I would love to share some pictures from my Toy Story themed family party! I apologize that I'm so late in sharing them!

Here's my reaction when I first walked into the dining room and saw the decorations. (If you can't see my face because I'm too far away, I'm smiling broadly.) =) The party was at my grandparents' house.

Aren't the decorations adorable? =) My mom used a lot of our old Toy Story toys to decorate the table. Don't you just love the barrel of monkeys and flying Buzz Lightyear hanging from the lights? Too cute!

And of course I had to share a picture of me getting a book, right? =) That's my happy, "I just got the latest Francine Rivers book!" face. I'm still saving this one (Her Mother's Hope), but I'm looking forward to reading it!

In conclusion (Does it feel like I just wrote an essay to you? The post is even organized with an introduction, three main points, and a conclusion!), I'll be bringing several books with me on my trip (shown under my "Currently Reading Book Montage" in the sidebar), so maybe I'll have some reviews for you when I get back! And not long after I return, I'll be hosting author Julie Lessman!!! Yes, right here on this blog!!! So be sure and check in on July 9. (And I should be back on July 6 or 7 if you want to check in before then!)

I'll miss you all! Happy blogging while I'm gone! =)

Book Discussion: A Passion Most Pure

Welcome to the first ever book discussion on "Seasons of Humility!" Before we get started, I wanted to share the poll results with you.

Our first poll asked the question: "What is your favorite genre of fiction books?" Of the eleven who responded, the breakdown was as follows:

• Suspense (1--9%)
• Romance (4--36%)
• Historical (5--45%)
• Science Fiction (0--0%)
• Mystery (1--9%)
• Other (0--0%)
  

It's nice to know that the people who read my blog share similar interests with me. Of course, the fact that you read my blog might be because we have similar interests! Funny how that works. =) Well, I read a lot of Christian Romance and Christian Historical Romance, so you can get your fix of your favorite fiction here!

As to the other poll, there was an overwhelming majority in favor of discussing Julie Lessman's A Passion Most Pure. (And this book just happens to fit into the Historical Romance category!) I am happy to oblige! Julie's debut book is simply fabulous! It's been about a year since I've read the book, though, so I hope I can still lead a good book discussion!

That being said, for any who haven't yet read the book, it is possible (actually, quite likely) that there will be some spoilers given away throughout the course of this discussion. If you're the kind of person who doesn't mind and you would still like to be a part of the discussion, feel free to join in! If not, however, than maybe just reading this far in the post will inspire you to pick up Julie's book. =) I highly recommend it!

And one more order of business: I have a wonderful surprise for all of you! Be sure to stop by on Friday, July 9, because I'm going to be featuring Julie Lessman here--on this blog! And yes, there will be a giveaway! It's going to spectacular, so be sure to mark your calendars!

And now for the book discussion! I'll get us started by asking a few questions and/or making a few comments on the book. How deep the discussion goes will be entirely up to you. I might be out and about for a while tomorrow, but I'll try to stop by occasionally to respond and guide the discussion as best I can. And I think Julie herself might grace us with her very sweet and very fun presence, so be on the lookout! =)

First, here's the description of the book from Revell:

"She's found the love of her life.
Unfortunately, he loves her sister.

As World War I rages across the Atlantic in 1916, a smaller war is brewing in Boston. Faith O'Connor finds herself drawn to an Irish rogue who is anything but right for her. Collin McGuire is brash, cocky, and from the wrong side of the tracks, not to mention forbidden by her father. And then there's the small matter that he is secretly courting her younger sister. But when Collin's affections shift, it threatens to tear her proper Boston family apart.

Book 1 of the Daughters of Boston series, A Passion Most Pure will carry your heart from the sophisticated streets of Boston to the green hills of Ireland as men go off to war and women long for their return. Full of passion, romance, rivalry, and betrayal, it will captivate you from the first page."

So (finally!) here are my observations/questions to get us going:

• The verse at the beginning of the book is Ecclesiastes 2:26, which says, "To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind" (NIV). Why do think Julie Lessman chose this verse to start out the book, and how do you think it fits with the story?

• I found it to be an intriguing twist that instead of having the story focus on three sisters--Faith, Hope, and Charity--only Faith and Charity have a "real" part. In fact, Hope was Faith's twin sister, but she died before the story even begins. What do you think the author was trying to say through this symbolism? What is the effect of having already lost "hope" before the start of the book?

• On page 303, Faith says, "Mitch, please understand, my faith means the world to me. I have every intention of saving my . . . well, my affections . . . for the man I marry. I want to see you, I do. But I can't indulge in 'favors,' as you put it, because they're wrong. That means if you and I are going to have a relationship, I need you to know I mean what I say. We can occasionally kiss, Mitch, but when I say no, the kissing is over. And if it isn't, the relationship is." What do you think of Faith's stand? Do you think she is demanding too much, or too little? Should she let a man she is not married to kiss her at all?

• When it comes to Collin, sparks fly for more than one sister. Do you think you could ever love a man who had loved your sister first? And do you think it's possible that a man can change because of a woman's love (or vice versa)? How would you be able to tell if he had truly changed, or if he was just putting on a show? (Feel free to cite examples from the book.)

Whew! I could go on and on, I'm sure. =) I've given you some food for thought, and I'd love to hear your feedback! Don't feel like you have to address all these questions! Address just one, or all if you desire. I'll check in later!

Let the discussion begin!

Quick Update

Hello everyone!

I just wanted to ask for your input on which book you would prefer to discuss this week. I would greatly appreciate your vote on the poll in the sidebar. The discussion will begin on Friday, June 11. Thank you!

Also, I should be finishing Love on a Dime soon, so be looking for my review! Which leads me to a fun question for the day:

What are you reading right now, and what are your thoughts on the book so far?

Happy reading!

"Sharing a Smile" Saturday 4

There are lots of smiles to go around today!!! I'll start with the winner of the $10 gift card drawing. I did the drawing the old-fashioned way, putting 45 names (out of 11 entrants!) into a hat and having my sister pull a name out. And the winner is . . .

Emma Michaels!

Congratulations, Emma!

For all those who didn't win this time, don't give up! I'm sure that wasn't the last giveaway to be seen on this blog!

And thank you so much to all those who entered! I loved reading about your sweet food memories, and I wrote all those recipes down on some recipe cards!

Now, another order of business before sharing a few more smiles with my readers. According to the poll, of the 8 that voted, half (4) of you wanted "Movie Week." I will be happy to honor that request. So next week will be "A Week at the Movies," premiering Monday. So stay tuned!

Also, there were 3 people that voted for "Nature Week" (which was a close second), and I came up with another theme that I couldn't resist (from "Nature Week"). So the week after "A Week at the Movies," join me for "Let's Go Camping!" Start packing your hiking boots and swimming suits, and don't forget to come back in two weeks!

Now for those smiles! I'm not sure how exactly Blog Awards work, but I thought I would create my own and pass it on to some of you! Here's the award:

And here is the list of those people (and their lovely blogs) that I would like to pass this on to:

• Renee @ Black 'n Gold Girl's Book Spot : Renee was the one who helped me get this blog started, patiently answering all my blogging questions and encouraging me. She was my first follower! Thanks, Renee, for being such a great blogging friend!

• Cerella @ The Cerella Life : Cerella not only agreed to do an interview with me on my blog, but she has visited my blog and left comments that make me smile. :) Thanks, Cerella!

• Lori @ Some of my Favorite Things and ~Some of My Favorite Books~ : Lori found my blog (as many new followers have) thanks to Renee and my Walmart gift card giveaway. Her comment there was so sweet, and after having just seen my blog she posted about my giveaway on her own blogs! Thanks, Lori, for your kind words and support!

• Ariel @ "The French Poet" (http://www.angelvelvet.blogspot.com/) : Ariel has been leaving so many kind comments ever since the beginning of my blog (over a month ago now!). I really appreciate her! Thanks, Ariel!

• Ashley @ After All....... Tomorrow Is Another Day : Ashley was one of my first followers (one of Renee's followers who decided to give my blog a chance). Thanks, Ashley, for your sweet words and your faith in me!

• Angie @ "Never a Dull Moment" (http://neveradullmoment-angie.blogspot.com/) : Angie's comments make me smile, and I so appreciate her interest in my posts! Thanks, Angie!

• Hannah @ "Project Journal" (http://hcprojectjournal.blogspot.com/) : Hannah is one of my new friends and followers, but I think this might be the beginning "of a beautiful friendship"! Thanks, Hannah, for your compliments and your kindness!

Thank you to these people and all the others who have followed my blog and/or left comments (or even just read it!). I appreciate you all so much!

To those who I passed this award on to, if you would like to pass this award on to others, please do! I think you should be able to find the link to this picture pretty easily, but let me know if you can't (it's also on my PhotoBucket account). My only rule is that you must tell the recipients why you gave them the award!

Anyway, tune in soon for some more fun!

For the Love of Others . . .

The results are in! The latest poll question was, "What is your favorite part about summer?" Of the four people who answered, here is the breakdown:

• Family vacations--2
• Relaxation--0
• Hanging out with friends--2
• Making extra money--0
• Sleep!--0

Even though there were only four people who answered the question, I think it is safe to say that it is our time spent with each other that makes summer special for us--whether with family or with friends. I have been blessed with amazing parents, as well as other wonderful family members, and great friends (like my friend Elena pictured on the right)!

Summer affords many of us more time to spend with each other and sunnier days in which to do more together. And we ought to value every moment we have with each other, because the relationships God has given us are great gifts indeed.

But there is one more Friend who we ought to spend more time with this summer, and every day of every season: our Lord. Jesus said (as recorded in John 15:14-16), "You are My friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you slaves anymore, because a slave doesn't know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from My Father. You did not choose Me, but I chose you" (HCSB).

Through God's grace, we who are His disciples (believers) are friends with Jesus! What a grand truth that is. If you are saved, you have a personal relationship with the Lord of all, and it is He who we should spend the most time with this summer.

May we (including myself!) remember to use our time wisely as spring begins to blossom into summer and bright days beckon us out-of-doors, into the beauty of God's creation.

Note: I am going to have a different kind of poll this time, so if you wouldn't mind I'd really appreciate your input! The poll will be posted in the sidebar soon! Thanks to all of my readers--I appreciate your time and your kind comments.

Humboldt County

Instead of writing about my hometown (which isn't really existent, since I live inbetween towns), I thought I'd share a bit about my home county. Why my sudden interest in my home county, you may ask? Well, today was my last day of classes, and in about a week I'll be headed home! While I will miss my "third home" (as my grandma and I fondly refer to Corban University), I'm very excited to go home and see my family again! And who doesn't love summer vacation?

But first, the poll results. The question was, "What is your favorite part about your hometown?" Of the six people who voted, here's the breakdown:

The weather--0
The scenery--3
The people--3

The shops--0
The tourist traps--0

My home county is Humboldt County, located on the beautiful North Coast of California.

The weather: Oh, boy . . . this isn't exactly the best part about my home county! Fog can be rather mysterious and lovely, but it can also be rather cold. Temperatures are about the same all year round (especially right near the coast). It does warm up some in the summer, but days with the temperatures in the 60s and 70s (Fahrenheit) are considered good days (40s and 50s are most common). However, we do get some sunshine off and on, in-between the rain and fog!

The scenery: This has got to be one of the best parts about Humboldt County! The scenery is absolutely breathtaking, what with the redwoods, the ocean, the meadows, the farmlands, etc. I could go on and on! But how about I just share some pictures, instead?

Photo by Jack Hopkins: Courtesy Humboldt County CVB, redwoods.info.

Photo by Carrie Grant: Courtesy Humboldt County CVB, redwoods.info.

Photo by Don Forthuber: Courtesy Humboldt County CVB, redwoods.info.

The people: Humboldt County is home to my family and many of my friends, so of course I love the people!

The shops: Because of all of the fun places to see, there are lots of cute gift shops in Humboldt County (like "The Sea Around Us" in Trinidad and the cute stores in the Victorian village of Ferndale). Plus we do actually have a mall (The Bayshore Mall) in Eureka, which is a plus!

The tourist traps: One of my favorite tourist traps is the Trees of Mystery (that might be a bit north of Humboldt County; I'm not sure). The beautiful redwoods, the tall statues of Paul Bunyan and his faithful sidekick Babe the Blue Ox...so fun!

Anyway, do any of you have anything to share about your hometown/county?

Spring is in the Air

The latest poll results are in! The question was: Of the following, which is the part you like best about spring?

Of the seven who voted, the results are:

Flowers--1
Newborn animals--3
Sunny days--2
Cleaning--1

I think the fact that "Newborn animals" was the top result is fitting. Isn't that what spring is all about? Spring entails new life and new hope. In the "Seasons of Humility," spring is the time when we really feel alive in the promises of God. He knows what is best for us, and though it's hard to let go, to release the old (our own desires) and wait patiently for God's will, when spring comes we see the wonder of trusting in God. He can do good through us, but we have to submit to His will. And what joy the spring brings! The beauty (like the flowers), the new life (like newborn animals), the warm comfort (like sunny days), and the fresh start (like cleaning out the old to make room for the new). Only God could work such miracles and offer such delights, such hope. Embrace it! God does not let us down. Trust Him and let go. Spring is in the air!

"You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." Psalm 16:11 (NKJV)

Quick reminder: If you haven't taken a look yet, I recently interviewed author Leanna Ellis and her responses are so thoughtful and fun! Just scroll down or click "author interview" in the Labels section.

Seasons

"To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven."

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Change is expressed so well in the seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter. Each season has its own unique characteristics, and while some may not be our favorites, they all have their hardships and their own unique beauty. Each season of our life is a reminder that God is at work, and that their is hope when we trust in God. After winter comes spring. After summer comes fall. While we are in this world marked by time, seasons will continue on in their cycle. But someday, we will no longer be living in this world, and (if we believe in Jesus and are saved by grace) we will live with God forever--eternal life, beyond the constraints of time!

The question I asked in the poll was: "What is your favorite season?" Of the nine who gave their answers, here's how the breakdown went:

Spring--3
Summer--4
Fall--2

Winter--0

While this is only based off of nine people's responses, I believe it's interesting (but not surprising!) that many people favor spring and summer over fall and winter. We enjoy those warm, hopeful, blossoming months. And isn't it interesting that my rating scale for reviewing (see the sidebar) follows the same pattern? Fancy that! Hopefully this poll helps you see how my rating scale works!

I'll be posting a new poll soon (in the sidebar), and I'll try to connect what the poll is about to a post that I write, so take a look if you're interested!

Also, exciting news!!! I have been communicating with several different authors, and because of their kindness I plan on having two author interviews for you in the next couple of weeks! And the summer should offer some excitement, as well! I'll let you know more later, but I thought I would give you a taste of some fun coming up soon!