Monthly Archives: September 2014

Simply September

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Hey!

September was a month of new beginnings.

  • I started a new series of posts called Friday Finds. Here’s a sample.
  • I started a Fall Bible Study Session at my other website, Sweeter Than Honey Ministry. We’re currently in Week 4 of Children of the Day: A Study of 1 & 2 Thessalonians by Beth Moore. You can check it out here.
  • And last but not least, I registered for a blogging 101 course online.

I also began working on a special project this month. I can’t wait to share more details about it, but for now, they’ll have to wait.

One of the lessons I’m being reminded of this month is that I can’t do everything and sometimes that means I must say no to something that I really enjoy because I’ve said yes to others. With that lesson, comes the reality that I can’t participate in this year’s 31 Day Challenge but I’ll cheer and applaud everyone else along.

The best fiction book that I read this month was a quirky, sweet story called The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion.

The main character, Don, reminded me of Sheldon on The Big Bang Theory. Don decides he wants a wife so he puts together a questionnaire in an attempt to weed out the undesirables. Rosie comes into his life with none of the qualifications that he is seeking and … ( I can’t spoil it for you. ) oh and beware, f-bombs fall. Here’s a quote to give you a taste of Don’s personality.

“Throughout my life I have been criticized for a perceived lack of emotion as if this were some absolute fault….Occasionally an emotion can be enjoyed - the gratitude I felt for my sister, who visited me even during the bad times, the primitive feeling of well being after a glass of wine - but we need to be vigilant that emotions do not cripple us. I diagnosed brain overload and set up a spreadsheet to analyze the situation.”

We’re loving these TV shows.

  • Scorpion — Nerds saving the world
  • Madame Secretary — Woman saving the world
  • Once Upon A Time — Fairy Tale Characters saving the world
  • Girlfriend Intervention — Sisters saving a basic woman from her bad wardrobe and decorating world.

I’m sensing a theme here….

Delta is 7 1/2 months old now and this past weekend, her world got rocked when a little fluffy kitten decided to take up residence with us. Delta really wanted to play and lick her face and nibble on her but she was having to learn to be gentle. Life is so hard for a puppy.

Blessings,

Mimi

“The world’s a huge stockpile of God-wonders and God-thoughts. Nothing and no one comes close to you!” Psalm 40:5a The Message

Friday Finds #3

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Hey!

Friday finds are here again!

  • Best explanation of what it’s like to live with a chronic illness or disability, “The Spoon Theory”, click here.
  • Literary Tourism: Oxford, England from BookRiot, click the picture for more.

  • I’m always amazed by the creativity of Mandi at Vintage Revivals and she has a way with words that always leaves me smiling. Her project of turning an old leather sofa into a bench just blew me away. Check it out here.
  • Found this great idea for DIY Mason Jar Solar Lights by Thriftdee, click here.
  • Love this piece by Lindsey Stirling, “Beyond the Veil”

Happy Weekend!

Blessings,

Mimi

“Shout with joy to God, all the earth!” Psalm 66:1 NIV Bible

 

Eighth Notes and Writing Challenges

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Hey!

I can hardly believe that October is almost here. For the last several years, I have participated in a writing challenge during the month of October. Now that the start date is looming in 6 days, I’m starting to get antsy. Even now, as I am thinking about what I will write, my foot is tapping staccato eighth notes in allegro.

I have a working topic but I’m struggling with finding the time to actually pull it together. I’ll announce on Monday. {That’s a great idea; put it off for a few more days -hehehe!}

Until then, if you didn’t get a chance to see my posts from the past two years, you can check them out below. Just click on either button and it will take you to the 31 Day Series page. From that location, you can view any or all to your heart’s content.

2012

2013

See you on Friday for Friday Finds #3!

Blessings,

Mimi

“Train me in good common sense; I’m thoroughly committed to living your way.” Psalm 119:66 The Message

I Like Banned Books

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image via bannedbooksweek.org

Hey!

Books are wonderful, dangerous things. Within their pages, I have been transported to faraway lands, to places right around the corner and to everywhere in between. I’ve confronted my ignorance, challenged my prejudices, and dealt with my fears through the lives of the characters. I’ve also been in love, cried a fountain of tears, laughed until my sides ached, and sighed with contentment in the warmth of grace. I’ve shared my love for books and reading numerous times but a sampling can be found here and here.

Every year, the last week of September is Banned Books Week. Books are banned for a number of reasons. According to the Website for the Office of Intellectual Freedom of the American Library Association, the top 8 reasons for challenging books over the last decade are:

  • Sexually explicit
  • Offensive language
  • Unsuited to the age
  • Violence
  • Homosexuality
  • Satanic
  • Religious viewpoint
  • Anti-family

Some of my favorites off of the 100 Top Challenged/Banned Books for 2000-2009.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
The Call of the Wild by Jack London
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Harry Potter (series) by J.K. Rowling
The Giver by Lois Lowry
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
A Time to Kill by John Grisham
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle

 

  • For more Top 100 books, click here.
  • To learn more about Banned Books Week, click here.
  • Goodreads has a page devoted to banned book lists, click here.

Blessings,

Mimi

“Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” John 21:25 NIV Bible

Friday Finds #2

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Hey!

Latest Friday Finds, enjoy!

These pictures of Tybee Island caught my attention by Rhoda at Southern Hospitality. The whole post is filled with gorgeousness. Check out her post by clicking the picture.

Tybee Collagevia Rhoda at Southern Hospitality

  • The 20 Most Beloved Books list according to Facebook users’ postings of their 10 favorite books, click here. Did your favorite make the list?
  • Check out this precious daddy and daughter dance to Taylor Swift’s new song.
  • This post is snort-laugh-out-loud worthy, click here.

A jazzy rendition of Chim Chim Cheree by Esperanza Spalding

Blessings,

Mimi

“Freely you have received, freely give.” Matthew 10:8b NIV Bible

 

A Moment of Insanity and Blogging 101

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Hey!

What was I thinking?! I’d been feeling overly stressed while writing this bible study that has a deadline looming for publication and I must’ve had a moment of mid-life crisis insanity and thought I’d add more craziness to the mix. I registered for a Blogging 101 course. I clicked the button before I gave it thought. Anybody else do things of this nature? I’m like a binge stresser — creating one big moment of meltdown.

My daughter promised me she would actually take this course for me after I woke up from said insanity and realized what I had done to myself. Then, I see the topic for the first post and realize that she can’t ghost write a post about myself.

I’ve been doing this “blogging thing” for a few years. I’ve changed my name a couple of times, my address a few times, and then, last year, I bit the bullet and bought my own domain and set up my site on WordPress. I really still feel computer illiterate and frankly, I’m hoping to learn more about navigating around WordPress.

I feel like an older fish in this blog pond. Many of the bloggers I read are quite a bit younger than me and most of my real life friends are just learning to navigate Facebook. I would love to interact and meet bloggers closer to my age with the same interests. That being said, I’ve found most of the bloggers that I’ve interacted with online to be kind and generous.

I use blogging as a creative outlet and a writing practice. Over the years, I’ve discovered I enjoy blogging about different aspects of my life. I think the posts my readership has enjoyed the most {BIG THANK YOU to my faithful followers!} are when I review books, talk about my family, my house renovation, trips, faith, or some type of “my favorites” list.

One of my blogging goals for this year was to post consistently and frequently. I’ve done pretty good for most of the year. The summer, I slowed down the frequencies of my posts because, well, … it was summer! I’ve also tried to find my “voice” in writing. I joined a writers group for a few months and I’ve tried to experiment more with my writing styles and also push myself to be more open and vulnerable in my posts.

Welcome y’all to the State of Hospitality!

Blessings,

Mimi

“I have written you quite boldly on some points, as if to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me” Romans 15:15 NIV Bible

Friday Finds #1

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Hey!

I’m starting a new friday series called Friday Finds. On fridays, I’m going to share all sorts of things I’ve found around the web. I hope you enjoy this new feature to the blog.

Fred MacMurray immediately comes to mind when I think of Disney and movie dads. In this article, Fred MacMurray’s daughter writes about her childhood home and about her famous father.

I laughed so hard when I saw this video! Girlfriend is just keeping it real about her DramaMine!

 

This artist is amazing! Click on the picture above to take you to the link.

 

Here’s a few books to choose from over the weekend: Amazon’s 100 books to read in a lifetime list.

 

What David Zinn does with chalk is AMAZING! Click on the picture for the link to more artwork.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have a wonderful weekend!

Blessings,

Mimi

“Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen. ” Psalm 72:19 NIV Bible