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September 25, 2018

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Life, Tags, Uh, This is Random

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Goodbye September [a fall-ish tag]

Julia from over at Lit Aflame tagged me to do a Hello September tag, but alas September is almost over. So I’m calling it Goodbye September (in case the title of this post didn’t clue you in). Thank you so much for tagging me, Julia!

This is very much a written-in-my-jammies-from-under-a-blanket post. Aka: super chill. Let’s go, kids.

goodbye september (1).jpg

The Rules:

hello september blog tag.jpg~Please copy the questions below, answer them, and then write out your new questions (or you can even copy these) for the people you nominate below your answered questions.

~Please nominate at least three bloggers, but try to avoid ones that you know have already been tagged.

~Lastly, include these guidelines in your post, and use the tag picture!

The Questions:

  1. Do you like fall? Why or why not?

Yes, I like fall, but not for fall’s sake.

I like fall because it means summer is over and winter is on its way. If you’ve been around Penprints for a while, you may remember this post about how much I love winter. It is my absolute favorite season, and I enjoy fall because it’s the gateway to winter.

I love that though so many things die in the fall, they die in the promise of resting for the winter and bursting back to life in the spring.

So, yes, I like fall.

  1. Favorite fall book?

Now for this one, I couldn’t decide. Because so many of my favorite books take place in the fall or partially in the fall. Like A Time to Die by Nadine Brandes. Like Fawkes by Nadine Brandes. I don’t have a Nadine Brandes problem, I promise. Like The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien.

So for now, let’s go with those three. :)

  1. Favorite fall time memory?

Ohhhh, I really like this question.

My siblings and I were all homeschooled, and Mom would take us out to a pumpkin farm almost every year to pick pumpkins and go through a corn maze and get donuts and such. Those were always fun, very fall-ish trips.

But more dearly than that, I remember school starting up and the little routines Mom would put in place for us. We’d go pick out calendars—one for each of us—and each morning we’d pick a sticker for the weather and then a sticker just for fun to put in our calendars.

Part of our morning routine with the calendars was for my brother Luke (only two years older than me) and me to recite the months of the year, the day’s date, our address, and our phone number to our older sister and brother—Arielle and Caleb. They already knew that info, but they were supposed to help us memorize it.

I don’t know what it is, but I just love thinking about that time in the mornings—excited about my new calendar, picking out stickers, sitting by my sister, rattling off our address to her and Caleb, probably wearing some jeans with embroidered flares and a nice, bulky, pink sweatshirt, Mom somewhere in the background getting other school stuff for the day out.

Even though it’s a mundane memory, I just loved being with them like that—simply and daily. I miss it.

  1. Picture fall as a character and write a small something from his/her pov.

This one is sooo good, but my creativity is nil probably because I was just crying about how my siblings and I are all grown up and won’t be doing the calendar stickers or address recitations together ever again and the happy-sadness drained me. So, I’m going to take a rain check on this one; maybe I’ll make it into a post for later this fall!

  1. Is there a song that makes you think of fall?

I have no idea why, but Lion’s Den by Little Chief makes me want to pull on socks, cozy up in a blanket, and weep for joy. Also, Awake My Soul by Mumford & Sons. Maybe it’s the mellow, calming nature of both songs. I’m not sure.

I just want to climb on a train, listen to those songs, and cry softly and happily as trees of golden orange pass my window. (Trains also make me think of fall? Apparently?) *writes the rest of this post listening to those songs on repeat*

  1. Wind or rain (or both)?

I say both, but if I have to choose, I say rain. I could write a love song to the rain, and maybe I will one day. (Or maybe it’ll be just a really bad poem because I can’t write songs or poetic poetry.)

  1. What is your favorite warm drink?

Chai lattes! Recently, I’ve been getting dirty chais (chai lattes with a shot of espresso), and one of the baristas at my local coffee shop recommended I try it made with half and half instead of whole milk.

Kids, get the chai made with half and half instead of whole milk (it has a special name, but I cannot for the life of me remember it).

I loved chai lattes already; the moment I tasted a chai made with half and half, I wanted to renew our vows (the vows between chai lattes and I, obviously). It was ridiculously, remarkably, and radically delicious. No. joke. (Chai is no joking matter, kids.)

  1. What do you look forward to doing the most in the fall?

Adding layers. I love adding layers.

I love helping the kids I nanny into their fleeces before we go play outside. I love tugging on a hoody. I love having the jackets hanging by the door.

I don’t know what it is about adding layers; it’s just so… warm and close. (I realize this question was probably supposed to be about apple picking or corn mazes or something, but I enjoy the little things.)

  1. What is the worst thing about fall?

Everyone loses their mind about fall.

Either they’re weeping about summer being over OR they’re weeping because they’ve been trying to break out their boots since July. Either they’re super sad and melancholy and whiny OR they’re shouting about fall from the rooftops.

Calm down, people.

  1. Give one tip or challenge for fall.

Regardless of whether you like fall or not, go into the fall of 2018 it with expectancy and hope.

Regardless of whether you’re experiencing a whole bunch of firsts or a whole bunch of lasts, live alive.

Make a fall bucket list and start checking things off.

Stop living in the past. Stop dreaming of the future. Embrace this fall day by day. Embrace this life day by day.

You will never again be with these people in this place at this time ever again, for when the fall of 2019 comes around, you will not be the same person you are now and neither will these people be the same as they are now.

You have been given the fall of 2018 to live once. Live it.

My Questions (I’m totally stealing some of these from Julia):

  1. Favorite fall time memory?
  2. Picture fall as a character and write something from his/her pov!
  3. Give one tip or challenge for this fall.
  4. What books are you reading/wanting to read this fall?
  5. Fall isn’t fall without…
  6. Of all the fall colors, which is your favorite and why?
  7. If you could dress up as anything for Halloween, who/what would you be? Why?
  8. What are ten words that remind you of fall (e.g. – crisp, golden, leaves)?
  9. Create a myth why about leaves change color and fall.
  10. What are you harvesting in your life right now (i.e. – what projects are coming to fruition, what things are you learning, etc.)?

The Tagged:

Pick one of these questions and answer it in the comments! And if you decide to take the tag, leave me the link!

With love,

Rosalie

p.s. – keep a weather eye on my Instagram tomorrow. Crazy things will be happening. O.o

p.p.s. – My dear fireflies (you know who you are)! A very exciting memo from High Command will be coming to your inbox next week. We’ll all just pretend I didn’t totally miss sending out a September memo.

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September 18, 2017

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Tags, Uh, This is Random

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The Sunshine Blogger Tag

Lisa from over at Inkwell tagged me a couple weeks ago in The Sunshine Blogger Tag! It’s a fun tag with simple rules:

– Answer the eleven questions you’ve been tagged with

– Create eleven brand new questions

– Tag up to eleven people

So thank you for tagging me, Lisa! You came up with some fantastic questions!

Let’s get this party started.

sunshine-blogger-tag

Question #1: What would be your second choice career (other than that of a writer)? Or, if you aren’t going to be a full-time author, what’s your job choice?

Well, writing doesn’t pay well, and so I’m going to have to do something along with writing/blogging so that I can live, buy books, and eat food.

food 5

 

food 2

food 6.gif

food gif

food 4

What, uh, oops, I got a little distracted. AHEM.

This is actually something I’ve been thinking about a lot recently (not eating, the whole second job thing), but it’s all still very much up in the air right now. I’m thinking possibly (emphasis on “possibly” here, people; major emphasis) massage therapy, Spanish interpretation, freelance editing, or graphic design.

Buuuuuuuut, I’m thinking probably not those last three (I know, like, can I just please make up my mind on what’s even going to be on the “possibly” list for goodness sake???) because I like tactile work, something that I would do as much/more with my hands than my head because it’s earthy and honest and hearkens back to simpler days. (Though, there’s a distinct possibility that whole last bit is just a mental thing I have in my little romanticizing heart.)

Question #2: Out of all the people you personally know (not internet friends) who has been the most encouraging/enthusiastic about your writer’s life and your works?

Haha, this one is easy: my Dad. He reads everything I write. After each blog post, he sends me an email with his comments and thoughts on the topic of the post/the post itself. He reads all my flash fictions, and then he rereads them a bunch of times when I hand him draft after draft after draft so that he can give me his thoughts. And I think he read the Alpha Draft (aka: Draft Four) of Beasts in two days. He’s always incredibly encouraging and offers such fantastic advice and helpful (and gentle) criticism, and he wants me to do what I need to do to be able to write as much as possible. He is, by far, my biggest fan.

Question #3: How would you want to die if you were to be killed by the villains of a fictional world you accidentally entered?

Ummmm, very quickly. That’s about all I’ve got for that one.

no expert gif

Question #4: Who’s your favorite animal character of all time? (Out of a book, friends, not a movie.)

Breehy-hinny-brinny-hoohy-hah (or, more simply, Bree) from The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis. Oh, goodness, this horse. So much tude. So much sass. And also very vain and arrogant until he meets Aslan, which is something I relate to personally.

Question #5 Are you more excited about writing the dedication or the acknowledgements in your book?

Probably the dedication. I think the dedication is for the heart of the book, and the acknowledgements are for the village that raised the book.

Question #6: In one sentence or phrase, describe your writer’s life motto – preferably using symbolism and metaphors. It can also be your mission statement kind of thing.

Okay, I’m going to share my super secret writing manifesto that I will probably be putting on my new business cards (whenever I get them) and plastered all over my author website (whenever I get that set up).

Here we go: stories that are sweet aromas to Christ and signal fires to the world.

It may get tweaked, but that’s the general idea.

Question #7: Pick one song that best describes what you aspire to be.

Hahahahahahaha–easy.

To Live Is Christ by Sidewalk Prophets. Go watch the lyric video. Get chills. Cry. Lose your life in Christ. Thank me later.

I was going to share a few of my favorite lyrics in this post, but then when I was trying to choose, I realized that the whole song is my favorite lyrics, thus, we came to a conundrum. So excuse me while I paste the entirety of the lyrics below.

If I rise, let me rise on You,
Not on all of my successes, my esteem, or my pursuits,
If I lose, let me lose my life,
‘Cause if I belong to Jesus, the flesh is crucified.

For me to live is Christ,
For me to live is Christ,
For me to live is Christ, to die is gain.

If I grow, let me grow in You,
Wilt the seeds of wanting more,
Rippin’ pride out by the roots,
And if I’m still, let me hear You speak,
Not the tone of my transgressions,
But the song of the Redeemed.

For me to live is Christ,
For me to live is Christ,
For me to live is Christ, to die is gain.

My great desire is to be with You,
But this is the place You chose for me,
This is the place You chose for me,
To lift my cross and give everything,
This is the time You gave to me,
This is the time You gave to me,

For me to live is Christ, For me to live is Christ,
For me to live is Christ, to die is gain,
I’ll never be the same, I’ll never be the same,
For me to live is Christ, to die is gain.

But, basically, just go watch the lyric video.

Question #8: Do you listen to podcasts? If so, what are your favorites?

Yesssssss! I’ve recently been listening to podcasts more and more! So, my current favorites: Bright Eyes (sci-fi podcast), Ask Pastor John, Sermon of the Day, and TED Talks Daily. I get my fiction fix from Bright Eyes, edification from Ask Pastor John and Sermon of the Day, and then random curiosities from TED Talks Daily (though, I’ve found that TED Talks tend to be politically correct and leftist a lot of times, but there are still some good ones, like the one about creating safe artificial intelligences).

Question #9: If you had to rename your blog, what would you call it?

Renaming the blog?

who me.gif

Lol, that’s never happened before. Don’t be absurd.

Anyhoo, if I had to rename it at this point, it would probably be something like Chirospasm (because it means “spasm of the muscles of the hand; a writer’s cramp”, and that’s basically my life), Glass Houses (a suitably mysterious blog name), Of the Soul (a suitably overly existential crisis name), High Command (because, seriously, you guys getting emails from “High Command” would just be too good), or The Pale Blue Dot (after the picture of earth taken from space that shows earth as “a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam”).

Question #10: What would you want written on your tombstone? (Got this one from a biography where a girl said she wanted “She lived life to the fullest” written there. Something of that sort, friend.)

If I were to have a tombstone, I would want Philippians 1:21 (For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.) or Psalm 27:4 (One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in His temple.) carved on it.

Question #11: You know you will die in one year. What do you want to do in that time?

One year to live (in no particular order):

– read through the Bible one more time

– visit all my family

– write and publish a collection of flash fictions

– write one more book

– memorize Philippians

– quit apologizing (verbally or internally) for my tastes, interests, callings, or anything that is not actually apology-worthy

– get a tattoo (shhhhhhhhh, don’t tell anyone; actually scratch that and see the previous item on this list)

– sing my soul out more often and not care how it sounds or who’s listening

– reread the Out of Time series by Nadine Brandes (shocker)

– make a disciple or two

– wear sweatpants in public with no shame because life is truly quite short

– get rid of my smartphone

– NF (not finish) books more often because I don’t have time to waste on books I find “meh”

Questions for the peeps I’m tagging:

  1. What is the last 5 star book you read? What made it a 5 star read?
  2. What makes you feel most alive?
  3. Name a fictional character who as impacted you in some way.
  4. If you didn’t have to sleep, what would you do with all the extra time (besides write or read)?
  5. In one sentence, share your philosophy for life.
  6. Use a gif to describe your default mood.
  7. What are 3 little things that make you incandescently happy?
  8. Are you primarily feeling or logic driven?
  9. What is the thing that makes you write even when you hate it?
  10. If you were a dictator, what 3 main policies would characterize your regime?
  11. What song do you always play on repeat?

Katie Grace of A Writer’s Faith, RubySky of The Sea Calls Us Home, Moya Tobey of An Existence Transcribed, and Alea Harper of Elvish Pens, Fantastical Writings—tag, you’re it. *sunglasses emoji*

Now, let’s talk, kids. What are your answers to some of these questions???

With love,

Rosalie <3

P.S. – I feel like I’m forgetting to tag someone who I really want to tag, but I can’t remember for the life of me who it is. This is frustrating. So, I might tag another person if I can remember. Or I may never remember. I guess we might not know.

P.P.S. – and have you watched that To Live Is Christ lyric video yet?