Sunshine Blogger Award Vol. 5

Hello All!  Happy Monday!!  Samantha @ Bookshire tagged me for my most favorite tag on the internet! It's been sitting in my drafts for quite a bit and I thought it would be a good one to whip up quickly at the end of February.  Well, it was definitely NOT quick because I discovered something towards the end of her questions (you'll see down below) but it was so much fun, nevertheless.  Is this my favorite tag because I get to look up happy aesthetic pictures?  Maybeeee.... but really it's my favorite because of the fun and creative questions y'all ask!

Rules:
Thank the blogger who nominated you in the blog post and link back to their blog.
Answer the 11 questions the blogger asked you.
Nominate 11 new blogs to receive the award and write them 11 new questions.  List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award logo in your post and/or on your blog.


Let's get to it!!

Samantha's Questions

1. What is the movie that you've watched that gave you the most emotions? (You can interpret this either as number or intensity. ;))

Ooh... good question... You know...?  I can't rightly say.  I'm not an emotional movie watcher AT ALL.  There are a few Catholic movies that have moved me deeply.  I also cried when I was child after watching The First of May.  I haven't watched it since then, but it would be very interesting to revisit.  Have you seen it?

2. What was the first book that you fell intensely in love with?

I think it would be Anne of Green Gables.  I'm not really sure of this though either.  I wasn't an avid reader as a child, and I was never hopelessly attached to any one toy, movie, or book.

3. What is your least favorite question to be asked, and why?

I absolutely love when people ask me questions out of curiosity with an open mind and an eagerness to learn.  It doesn't matter how silly the question may seem, I'm more than happy to answer it.  But if you're asking a question in order to peeve me or just challenge me for the sake of challenging me, I will not appreciate it.

The specific question that I have a distaste for though, would be something like, "So, what are your plans?  What are you doing?  What's new in your life?"  Please don't get me wrong, I'm so grateful that people are interested in my life and they are so supportive!  But ever since my freshman or sophomore year of high school I've been asked these kinds of questions and I can honestly answer you every time, "I have absolutely no idea!"  The only reason I flinch a little at this question is that I'm sorry I don't really have a good answer for you.  I wish I could give you a firm, goal-oriented, successfully moving forward answer, but I can't even formulate that answer for myself.  But I don't think Our Lord wants me to know the answer to that question.  If He did, then He would be sure to have answered my ever-constant prayer of "Show me Your Will for my life."  But in His silence is His Will.  He desires that we wait on His every word, His every move.  He wants us to abandon our wills to Him completely and for a planner like me, that's gonna take a lot of uncertainty and instability to propel me into His providential arms.

But please don't feel bad if you've asked me these sorts of questions.  They often lead to helpful suggestions and more self-reflection on my part.  Sometimes a simple, "How have you been," is the best question and if I have any new and exciting developments, I'll be so happy and excited to share them with you!  Please do pray for me that I may be ever faithful to God's providence in my life.

Also, I just love Megan's answer to this question...

That didn't really feel all sunshiny, did it?  Ok, rant tangent over, sorry.  

4. What is your favorite smell? (or some of your favorites, if it's too hard to narrow it down to one)

The scents on the air around Index, Washington, hands down are my favorite. I gulped in that air so heavily all the while thinking this is exactly how the sweet waves at the end of the Narnian world taste. If you ever get the chance to road trip through Northern Washington in summer, drive through the wooded mountains and roll down the windows. The smell is oh so sweet.

Oh!!  Also, this candle smells just like my memories of Christmas.  From the B&BW website description:

Its name says it all. Fresh cut pine. Cinnamon sugar. Toasted marshmallow. It’s everything you love about Christmas in one, nostalgic fragrance. 

That's pretty accurate but the reason it reminds me of all my Christmas' is that it smells just like my grandma's Christmas ornament boxes stuffed with old worn-out tissue paper, decorating the tree, and sitting enjoying the soft glow of the colored tree lights in an otherwise dark living room.

(Note: I did not purchase this though because B&BW is a pro-abortion company that donates to Planned Parenthood.  Maybe in the future, we can explore some good alternatives on this blog!)

5. What's your favorite season?

I switch between Spring and Autumn every year. This year, I especially enjoyed Autumn. But who knows what spring will bring this year!

6. Is there a book that you recommend to absolutely everyone, and if so, what is it?

The Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux is one I've read multiple times and that I highly recommend to anyone!!  (Pssst!  TAN Books has this title on sale for just $5 at the link above!🎉)

7. What is the craziest thing you've ever done?

Maybe repelling?  It was only down about 10 or 15ft but it was so much fun.  Learning just a little bit about the safety measures and putting your trust in them was quite something.  You know what made that experience crazier though?  The trek we made off the beaten path over boulders and through the thick, prickly brush to get to the "good" spot.

Also, kissing a dolphin when I was 3. 😂😍  It was just crazy wonderful.

Hello, 3 year old me! 😁

8. What's your favorite superhero movie, and why?

Thor: The Dark World.  I may not be able to fully explain why this is my favorite superhero movie ever.  First off, there's Thor.  He's just awesome.  I also love the character relationships and development.  Whether it's between Thor and Jane, Loki and Thor, the brothers and their parents, Heimdall and the gang, there are so many great scenes.  It's a decently good storyline (although others might disagree.)  But overall, I just wish I could be Jane.  She's smart, humble, and gets to go on an awesome adventure visiting realms she only studied in admiration as stars.  Did I mention the costumes?? 

9. Do you go to the library often, and if so, how do you tend to choose books when you browse?

Mmm... moderately often.   I used to tutor some little friends in Latin a couple times a week and we met for about three years at the library for our lessons.  Those were some of the best times of my life.  After our lessons were finished we would browse the movies and then the Young People's Library.  Usually I look for books, authors, or publishers I'm familiar with.  If I don't recognize these, I still may pick out the book (especially from the YPL) based on the content of the book.  I usually stick with historical fiction from this section.  Here are a few of my absolute favorite library discoveries!!  (Links go to my reviews on Goodreads.)

After the War - Carol Matas  War Horse - Michael Morpurgo

The Austen Escape - Katherine Reay Before Green Gables - Budge Wilson

10. What is your favorite position and place to read in (e.g. sitting in bed, lying on the couch, &c.)?

I like sitting or lying on the couch, sitting at the table with my lunch, or my most recent favorite... under the covers with a flashlight.  hehehe.  😊  It really just helps me calm down and fall asleep so easily.

11. If your house was burning down and you could save three of your books, which three would you save, and why? (excluding the Bible. We'll assume that one of your parents saved the Bibles.)

Wow.  Another really great question.  Well, certain books like my all-time favorite, The Story of a Soul, could be replaced because I haven't made any notes in it.  But there are a few that come to mind.  

1.  I would first rush to grab These Women Walked With God.  Not only would I grab it because it's a loaner from church but also because it is a rare find that is out of print and is one of the best books on religious life I've read.  It reads like a novel but is so incredibly inspiring because it is real life.  These faithful Cistercian contemplatives will take you by the hand and lead you gently but swiftly to the heart of Our Lord.  There is no way you can read this book without growing closer to God.  You may just want to dedicate your whole life to Him entirely in a very special way! 😉  (Once I finish the whole book, I'll be sure to give an in-depth review.)  This is also one I wish I had infinite copies of to give to every single person!

2.  After that, I'm less sure of what I'd rush to grab.  Maybe my copy of Manual for Total Consecration to Mary.  I've made some highlights in this one and just have too much attachment to my own copy of a consecration book like this.  (Similarly, my copy of Consecration to St. Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father.) 

3.  Finally, maybe I would grab a small booklet called A Few Lines to Tell You: My Life in Carmel.  It was gifted to me by one of my dear friends whose sister was in Carmel at the time.  The book had belonged to this sister before she entered.  It is a beautiful portrayal of life in Carmel before Vatican II, filled with the simplicity, devotion, and even some funny mishaps of a new sister in formation.

What a fun tag, as always!!  Thank you again so much, Samantha!  

What's this??  Another tag?! 😱  I didn't realize The Maidens of Green Gables tagged me!  Thank you, ladies!  Sorry it's taken me so long to find this! (...Or re-find it if you did indeed tell me about it, which is more than likely...🙈)   But without further ado, on to round two!

Katherine & Grace's Questions

1) What's something that's made you laugh this past week?

Where did this week even go?!  I had some very good laughs with my best friend/honorary sister who's home from college this week.  We caught up on everything and a lot of nothing.  Ya know... girl talk. ;)

2) What is the last Bible verse you've memorized?

Oh, it's been so long since I've memorized a Bible verse.  I could probably do some this Lent!

3) What's something you've seen in a movie and want to try in real life?

Fall in love, get married, live happily ever after and have babies?  Does that count?  Maybe visiting a giant library, sailing on a boat across the ocean?  How about discovering that I'm a lost princess or stumbling upon a magical wardrobe?  

4) What is your greatest source of motivation?

Jesus.  He is the one who holds me accountable for my actions, the one who calls me to do the little things with great love, and the one who comforts me in my sorrows.  Even this morning, when I didn't want to get up early out of bed to go to Mass, He made me think of Him and then I couldn't say no to seeing Him!  Now that's what I call motivation!  His great example of complete and selfless love has become a huge motivation for me especially at the beginning of this Lent.

5) If you were to star in a pre-existing Hallmark movie, which movie would you choose and which character would you play?

Hahaha... love this question.  I haven't seen an overabundance, but out of the ones I've seen, let's go with One Royal Holiday.  I mean... what's better than living in your very own little Inn, helping out a family in need, meeting royalty, hosting a glorious Christmas ball, and falling in love.  Not to mention Aaron Tveit.

But this is one I would want to live in.  Laura Osnes is an absolutely phenomenal actress and I don't think I'd want to replace her in the movie.

If I were to replace the lead actress in a movie, it might be Erin Krakow in Finding Father Christmas.  She's a good actress and I really liked her as Elizabeth in When Calls the Heart (seasons 1-5) but this isn't her most stellar performance in my humble opinion and I would absolutely love to play this role.  I love theatre and A Christmas Carol so I think it would be perfect.  But you know what I'd really love to film?  The carriage ride... *le sigh*

6) What is something you recently learned how to do?

Recently, I re-taught myself how to knit.  I had learned the basic knit stitch a long time ago but I never finished a project and what I did attempt had so many mistakes.  I know I keep mentioning my knitting, but I promise I will do a whole post about it soon!!

7) What is the last book you read and would you recommend it?

The last book I completed was The Christmas Box and I guess I would say, sure, it's a good read.  It's a novella really, although I think it's based on real-life?  It's short and sweet with a touching lesson but maybe a little too sweet, like a grocery store cupcake frosting.  It's nice, but not very deep.  If you're super bored at Christmas and don't have any other Christmas novels to read, sure, you can sit with this quite nicely.  Does that suffice as a recommendation?  I liked it, honest, just wasn't my all-time favorite or anything.

8) Your dream "cheer you up" package has just arrived on your doorstep. What is inside?

Aaaah!  You girls ask such fun questions!!  No self-care/beauty stuff for me, thanks all the same.   Instead, anything shabby chic floral, a Chick-fil-A gift card, photos of my dear friends and fun memories, a dark chocolate orange, a jar or box of cozy tea, some sort of beautiful chunky yarn for me to knit up, maybe some stickers whether they be planner stickers or hydroflask stickers, it doesn't matter, the latest issue of the Magnolia Journal, and a really, really good book with your favorite quotes highlighted or underlined.

9) What is your favorite Thanksgiving dish?

Oh no!!  Making me choose would be like asking me to choose a favorite child!  I just couldn't do that!  Though, some of my top favorites include the turkey with gravy and cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole with toasted marshmallows on top, my Granny's cream peas and carrots, also her ambrosia salad, my Aunt Jana's homemade rolls... am I forgetting anything?  Dessert!!  Can't forget that.  I would honestly just be happy with a huge piece of pumpkin pie with whipped cream.  *sigh*

10) What is something that is important to you that you want to pass on to your children?

My Catholic Faith is honestly the most important thing I would want to pass on to my children.  This faith teaches them the infinite love of God, our purpose in this life, what a great cloud of witnesses we have cheering us on from Heaven, what a mother we have in Our Lady, and their priceless worth as a human made in the image and likeness of God.  Most importantly, I would like to foster in their hearts an immense love for Jesus because He is the ultimate object of our love and affection.  We were created to love, to be loved, and for Love Himself.  So the most important thing I want to pass on to my children is the desire to attain Heaven where we will be in love with Love for all eternity.

11) What is your current favorite song?

Well, now that it is Lent and I have given up all music of a secular nature, I've only been listening to Gregorian Chant, hymns, and Contemporary Christian music.  But I have to say, my all-time favorite song right now, regardless of this fast, is Be Alright by Evan Craft, Danny Gokey, and Redimi2.  (I only know who Danny Gokey is. 😅)  It's a CC song that is currently on the Christian radio.  It doesn't have much substance to it, but I just really like it right now.  It's a reassuring message.

Wow!!  If you made it to this point, oh my goodness.  Thank you!!  And thank you to Grace and Katherine for those fun questions!!  Now, for the moment y'all may or may not have been waiting for... nominations!

• Miss K from Today with Miss K
• Stefanie from S. M. Lozinski
• Katherine and Grace from The Maidens of Green Gables  (Since you have a brand new beautiful home on the internet, I hope you won't mind doing this tag again so soon!  Or save it for a rainy day... that works too. 😊)
• Catherine from Femininity from Scratch
• Jacqulie from Simply Cinderella
• Miss Megan from Only Mildly Mad  (I know you had this one in the Fall, but they are in fact different questions and it has been 5 or so months.  You're welcome to take it or leave it. 😉
• Samantha dear of Bookshire, I don't want you to feel left out so if you so desire, you are more than welcome to answer these new questions! hehe
• And you, my dear reader!!  Answer some of these questions in the comments below or feel free to do the tag on your own sunshiny little corner of the internet!!

Finally, my questions:

1. What is your favorite time of the year?  Not necessarily a season (unless that truly is your favorite) but maybe a holiday, feast day, yearly event, or liturgical season.  What makes it your favorite?
2. If you could learn any musical instrument, which would you choose?
3. Describe your dream sitting room/living room.  (Pictures are a bonus!)
4. What do your daydreams usually consist of?
5. Where's your favorite spot in the world to pray and talk to God?
6. What's the most recent quote you wrote down somewhere or saved on Pinterest/Instagram?
7. Describe a delightfully ideal Saturday afternoon for you.
8. Out of horses, giraffes, dolphins, and elephants, which one would you choose for a pet and why?
9. What is your favorite medium of art whether you actually use it or just appreciate it? Acrylics, watercolor, pastels, charcoal, mosaics, etc...?
10. What is your favorite smell?
11. How do you come up with your blog post ideas?

Also, how do you ladies come up with such great questions?!  This was such a fun one to put together.  I hope you enjoyed reading it and I'm sorry it was so long.  Thank you so much if you actually made it to this point.  You honestly deserve a reward.  This is probably one of the longest posts on my blogs.  No kidding.  Sorry it's not a perfectly curated aesthetic, but I'm learning!  Thanks once again for reading!  I'd love to chat with you in the comments!!  May God bless you and keep you always!

In cordibus Jesu et Mariae,

Sarah