This week: Day by Day - Monday

Monday

I was rather sleepy this morning... Mum ended up waking me a bit past seven.  I am usually up by that time but I can account for this morning.  Poor little Elise was rather unwell during the night and kept me awake with her coughing and shivering.  Eventually (a bit past 2:00 am) I got up and realized she was running quite a high fever.  This is not unusual for her when she gets any sort of bug, and it always hits her very hard in the form of high fevers, back aches and extreme headaches.  And it is usually in the middle of the night.  This means that I have to help her upstairs to the couch, take her temperature and wake up Mum to offer comfort to the little sufferer.  I don't mind too much (after all, I'm the one who's planning to do nursing...) but it does make me rather tired... and tired me can result in one of two versions of me:

1. The crotchety, cranky me; or
2. The giggly crazy me

The concerning thing is that not even I can say which version is going to come out throughout the day.  It can change.  I must admit that when I got up with Elise, it was cranky me.  I tried to be the sweet nurse I can envision, but maybe it takes three years uni to master that... (I wish... LOL!)

It took a cup of tea and a chorizo sausage with a couple of eggs to get me going.  That and this morning's breakfast music.  I sat down at the table next to Annie's high chair, and she asked, "Can we listen to Annie??"  (Now do remember that her name is not really Annie, so this makes much more sense in it's real context.  What she was referring to was the new movie of Annie released at the end of last year.  We love that movie - the soundtrack is awesome.  I have a movie review coming soon.  :D)  So we kids all sat around the table and between mouthfuls sand songs like Tomorrow, Easy Street, New York City, Opportunity, I Think I'm Going to Like it Here, Maybe, and so on, and so on.  It's so much fun singing together - those of us who can pick out parts do so, and it sounds really nice.

But all fun and nice things come to a close eventually and before we were ready to stop singing our little hearts out, it was time for us to all disperse and tend to our duties for the week.  I am on vacuuming this week and so I did a quick tidy of the lounge and dining rooms and vacuumed them.  In winter it is also my 'job' in the mornings to get the fire going.  James would gladly do this for me (the little fire-bug!) but it never gets going for him.  I have tried to tell him that piling the kindling on top of the logs will not ignite the logs, but never mind.  When he gives up I enjoy setting it up (properly!) and getting the house nice and warm.  This morning I got a bit of a scare when a burning stick rolled out of the fireplace on to the hearth, sending a spray of shattered burning coal bits onto the carpet and my skirt.  Thankfully, nothing actually ignited.  The carpet is somewhat scarred now with ugly black pits, but I am rather thankful that we still have a carpet and it didn't go up in smoke.

At 9:30 is our come together time where we read the Word, pray and read our read-aloud book together.  This morning's Bible reading was Joshua 11 where a whole gang of kings come together to fight Israel but in less than 24 hours, the Lord helps Joshua and his army wipe the entire lot of them off the face of the earth.  It's amazing.

Our Read aloud book at the moment is Jonny Tremain.  It is the story of an intelligent, arrogant boy whose dream of being the best silver smith in the American colonies is shattered when he is permanently injured by a spiteful practical joke.  He eventually finds himself swept up in the emotions and politics of the Revolution and meets some of the high up persons that shaped America to what it is today.

Our reading time lasted about an hour and then everyone went off to do their book work.  For me, this means biology and for this module, that means memorizing the anatomy of a crayfish.  I know.  Go figure.  A crayfish.  Last module it was the anatomy of a an earthworm.  I can't wait to get to vertebrates.

Lunch.  Lunch is getting a bit tricky for me as I seem to have become (to some extent) gluten intolerant.  I usually go digging through the fridge for some left overs.  Today that came in the form of a chicken drumstick and beans and a bit of pumpkin.  I made a mushroom sauce to go on the chicken (because if you can add mushroom to anything, why on earth wouldn't you??) and I must say it was really yum.  ^_^

Mum decided that Joy would help her do the lunch clean up today, and so Jess and I took Rosie and Annie to the park next door.  Our version of minding the girls in the park is to let them run where they want (within reason of course - they are not allowed ANYWHERE near the road) while we sit under a tree and read, glancing up every now and again to make sure we know the whereabouts of our little sisters.  When we came inside again and Mum put the little girls down for their afternoon rest, Jess, Elise and I all sat around the fire and read for a good half hour.  It was lovely.  I am currently reading several books (as you would know if you follow me on Goodreads =P) but I am concentrating on The Book Thief.  It is an amazing book.  The imagery Zusak uses is astounding.  I am really enjoying it, and am proud of myself for being well over halfway through it.  This may not sound like such a wonderful feat except that it is more than 500 pages long.  XD

At 3:00 mum had a 'music meeting' with our pastor and the other music leader (Mum being one music leader and Curtis the other).  She dropped Joy and me off at the library on the way down as we meet with a lovely librarian friend of ours every month.  And so, after hanging at the library for an hour, and then chatting with Lee for an hour, we went home with a few more books than we returned.  (Please tell me we are not the only ones who do this!!)

By the time we got home,  Grace had dinner on and before long, it was ready.  There is something rather homey about meat and veg.  Add to that the lively chatter of a family of ten and you have one of the most beautiful things in the world, in my opinion.

After dinner, we were on the go again (I told you this week would be busy!).  Mum, Dad, and Joy went to music practise at church (Grace and Elise weren't well enough to go tonight) and I went to town band.  Town band is a 'new' thing for me, as in I used to go but last week was the first time in five years.  I am really enjoying it and having an outlet for my flute playing gives me an incentive to practise.  I know a lot of the people in the band, and most of the flautists.  Tonight there were six flautists but I am under the impression that all up - intermediate and senior band combined with no people away - there would be 17 flutes.  Wow!  That's quite a number of shiny metal tubes, I can tell you!  The people down at the band are really lovely and I love playing with them.

So here I am now, typing this out for you all to read - a bit of a window into my day.  I am the only one up now and my eyes and head are begging me to put away the bright screen and go to bed.  So I think I will.  But I am going to leave you with a verse from my personal Bible time from 2 Corinthians.

Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

(2 Corinthians 2:10-11)

Goodnight all, and God bless!  :)

Life

Hey everyone!!!  I'm back - back from holidays, back to 'normal' blogging, and back to (almost) normal life.

Most of you would know that the last couple of weeks have been quite difficult for me, my family, and my church family.  I used my blog to express my grief about Shannen and the stuff that was happening around and inside of me.  I want to thank you all for your love, your patience and your prayers - you are all amazing and I can tell you with added conviction that God is good and His peace and love are beyond anything that this world has to offer.  Praise His name forever!

I hope everyone has been well lately and has been doing well.  I can't really think of anything particularly to blog about, so I shall just say what has been happening in life recently.

One of the things we kids enjoy every summer is the library's Summer Reading Program that runs from the end of November to the end of January.  The way it works is that you read as much as you can and record how many hours you read for.  At the end of the allotted time, every two hours you read equals one ticket in your age category.  In February each age category gets tickets drawn out and the idea is that the more tickets you have, the more likely you are to be drawn out for a prize.  I read about 80 hours this year, but as I am in the adult section now I have no idea how that works out against other readers... not that I am betting on winning or anything, but we all like to win when we enter a competition of any sort.  ;)  :P

Jess got her wisdom teeth out this week just gone and I'm afraid it's been a rough path for her.  Right now - nearly four days after the surgery - she still looks like a little squirrel with nuts in her cheeks from the swelling.  In short, it hasn't been so swell...  (sorry, sister dear.  :P )

I started teaching piano again this week,, and I was reminded in the fist lesson how much I enjoy teaching.  My new student is very sweet and I think she will pick up piano very quickly.  I hope I can keep up with her.  :)

What else has been happening?...

Ummm....

I finally got around to scrap booking my 18th birthday party... it's only two years late, but better late than never!  Grace helped me with some of the sheets, and I am so happy with how they have turned out.    You can't see all the details in the photos, but the colour theme on each page is pink, orange and blue with an occasional splash of green and purple.  :)

Joy's Blog Birthday Party Day Four - Modern Fiction and Ink Stains

1.      Who are your most-well-loved authors of the mid to late twentieth century (. . . 1930s-1980s)?

I can’t say I read heaps from this era as I am quite wary about content, and it can be hard to find gems in the rubble sometimes.  I really like Corrie Ten Boom books.  Oh!  My favourite author of all time is Janette Oke.  If you have not read her books you really need to find some and get into them.  They are beautiful!

2.      Your favourite authors of the twenty-first century?

My family has recently discovered the Barn Chronicles by Rosie Boom, which is the story about Rosie’s family (her husband and their six children) and about how they lived in a barn in New Zealand while they built their family home.  The books are really funny and “real life”, if you know what I mean.

3.      Which genres do you tend to read the most and enjoy from more modern fiction?

Biographies I think but I am also especially fond of any books set in WWII.  Most of Janette Oke books are set in the pioneering days of America and are Christian romances.  In a good way.  ;)  :P

4.      Are you more willing to invest yourself in a fictional trilogy/or series or prefer the stand-alone novel better?

It depends on the series.  :)  If I don’t enjoy the first book, then I won’t bother with the follow up books, but then if I enjoy the first one, I’ll keep going.  :)

5.      While it is generally agreed that nothing beats classic fiction, there is much gold in the new too! What are the positive qualities and styles of modern works that you appreciate?

That is a really hard question, Joy!  Ummm… :)  It’s not that I don’t appreciate modern books but as a whole, modern novels just don’t portray the same family values, fidelity, clean-ness that older books tend to have.

6.      What is your greatest hope for modern fiction?

What do you mean by that?  I’m going to assume you mean, what do I hope to find when I open a modern fiction book… :)  I hope to read about people of courage, who aren’t afraid to stand up for right and who defend the truth.  Also love that lasts would be a nice bonus feature thrown in now days.  :)

7.      List 5 books by modern authors you have read which you either hope or predict will become "classics" in years to come.

I really have no idea… :)

8.      In reading modern books, do you predominantly read from the secular or Christian market?

Christian, because have I mentioned that Janette Oke is my favourite author???  ;)  In saying that however the war stories I rad would almost equal her books, I think.

9.      List three of your favourite novels written in this century.

10. Of various as yet-unpublished books that you know something about, what are 5 that you most wish to read one day?

I don’t really keep up with what is coming out, but there is a book by a certain Joy that I wouldn’t mind reading one day… :)

* * * * * *

"The Ink Stains" Questions. . . 

(the writing tag)

1.      For how long have you been seriously novel-writing? What sparked you to move from simply writing in a "dabbling" fashion for fun to pursuing your writing to a higher-level?

I confess I am still dabbling.  I am not a serious writer in the least and unless it is something casual like this or a story I think up by myself, I don’t particularly enjoy it much.

2.      Do you wish, ultimately, to entertain your readers and make them smile, or rather to inspire, challenge them and move them to tears?

Just to get them hooked would be my fist goal – if they feel anything after that, I’m happy.  :P

3.      What are two of your favourite genres to write in?

Historical Fiction.  I think I have dabbled in about half a dozen eras, but I can’t say what would be my favourite.

4.      Will you please tell us a little about your current writing project (novel-in-progress, short story, novella, etc. . . )?

I can’t say I am actually actively working on anything at the moment, but the last story I started was a re-telling of Beauty and the Beast in a WWII setting.   You can read the first two installments here.  Part One   Part Two

5.      How long have you been working on it? What is the backstory of how you started this novel?

I came up with the idea when I read about the competition of Five Enchanted Roses on Joy’s blog.  The challenge was to tell a unique version of Beauty and the Beast, while staying true to the original plot.  

   

6.      Have you written other stories/books (or currently writing others)? Do tell us a little about them please!

I have started many more stories than I have completed.  In fact, I can’t think of many stories that I finished – at all.  I am not particularly fond of my own writing style, strange as it may sound.  I tend to write about my own passions, namely family, weddings and babies.  If it is not written properly or harnessed and dealt out in moderate amounts, such writing is rather unpalatable and super sloppy.  :P   Janette Oke is about the only author I have come across who has mastered this art.

7.      Out of all the characters you've ever written, who is your favourite?

I was pretty happy with the old woman at the start of my Beauty and the Beast story.

8.      When you complete this novel, do you plan on preparing it for publication or rather leave it to "marinate" and start a new work with the hopes of improving your writing first?

I don’t plan to ever publish something, and as a general rule, I don’t edit.  The way it comes out is the way it is.  :P

9.      Isaac Newton was known to have said, "If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." Who do you see as having been the literary giants or "Greats" that have inspired and influenced your writing thus far?

10. Can you picture any of your novels being adapted into movies? In the stuff of your dreams, who would you cast for your main characters?

I am always doing this, whether it is my own writing or someone else’s!  As I said, though, my writing is generally not finished or developed enough to put it even into dreams yet!

11. As you write, how often do you find yourself learning any of the lessons or going through any of the journeys/struggles of your characters?

I can’t say I learn new lessons, but I am encouraged sometimes by the gentleness and meekness that I may try to put into a girl, or the courage and manliness that I put into a lad (not that manliness applies much to me!  LOL!)

12. As a Christian, how does your faith affect your writing generally? Is your current novel overtly Christian or more subtly under-girded with your faith and worldview?

Depends what I’m aiming for.  It my goal is a Christian novel, then I will highlight that more than what I would in a general fiction writing.  In such books, I may not mention religion at all, but my writing reflects the standards that I up hold as a Christian.

13. In one word each, how would you describe each of the main characters of your novel?

Dame Kansvier  : spooky

Rosalind: brave

Jacob: gentle

Ruth: sweet

14. Are there any aspects of your novel that have taken you by surprise?

Not yet!  :D

15. How do you think the main characters of your novel would react if he or she were introduced to you?

“You look so innocent!”  :P  Just kidding.  ;)  I seriously have no idea.

15. Do you plan, Lord-willing, on pursuing the traditional mainstream route of finding an agent, etc, and waiting it out, or do you consider indi publishing (self-publishing) a healthy alternative?

No, I don’t ever plan to publish.

16. Out of the many themes and messages, what would be the one closest to your heart that you should like to share through your writing?

There is hope, there is love, and we can find it if we look in the right place.  It isn’t inaccessible – Jesus holds it all out to us: all we have to do is reach out hand take it.

Joy's Blog Birthday Party, Day 2 - Faith and Fantasy

Day two of +Joy C. 's blog birthday party!  This time, the theme was Faith and Fantasy.  Hopefully my answers are intelligible, as I haven't been feeling very well today. :)  Hope you enjoy it!

1.      Taken from a Christian perspective, what are your thoughts and feelings on the fantasy genre in general? Do you hold to any convictions or guidelines on things like magic, sorcery, fantastical elements or allegory in fantasy books?

This is an interesting question.  :)  I don’t read heaps of fantasy, but not because I have issues with it particularly, I just haven’t really ‘done’ it.  Like all things however, there has to be a standard on how far the fantasy goes.  I think one of the problems with how we view fantasy today is that we often confuse fantasy with the spiritual world.  Fantasy, according to the dictionary, is anything imagined that is impossible or extremely unlikely.  I think a lot of Christians steer away from fantasy because of this confusion and the association of fantasy with books like Harry Potter and Twilight.  The difference is that, while vampires and magic spells may seem impossible, they are elements of the spiritual world and are not to be trifled with.  Compare that with a magical wardrobe that allows you to pass into another world, and you have something entirely different.  Imagination is fun!  You can be anyone you want to be, anywhere you want to be.  I think that is the beauty of fantasy novels – they take you places you would never have dreamed of on your own, so long as you set your guard against the dark side of he spiritual world that tries to creep in.

2.      Who are some of your favourite fantasy/fairy-tale authors? (you can name up to three.)

As I said, I haven’t read heaps of fantasy books, so I’ll have to say C. S. Lewis.  Also, while I wouldn’t call the whole series fantasy (the books take a more historical turn) I would say the first Ranger’s Apprentice book The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan is also on my (rather short!) list of favourites.  

3.      Have you read The Chronicles of Narnia books, or watched any of the movies? Which, if so, are your three favourite books?

That would be the first three books, because quite frankly, I have only read the first three books.  And have I ever watched the movies!  I love them!  (Save Prince Caspian – blerg!)

4. How many books by J.R.R. Tolkien have you read and enjoyed so far? Can you choose a favourite book (The Lord of the Rings can be considered one book ;)?

I am afraid I am about to horrify the lovely host of this party and say that I have not read any of Tolkien’s works.  I believe Mum started to read The Hobbit to us older girls some time back, but we never got around to finishing it.

4.      Uhm. . . since, C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien were friends, I will not risk causing further estrangement to the history of their friendship by pitting them against each other! However, being the mastermind of mischief that I am, I will toss this question your way: which of the two are you most fond of in sense of storytelling, characters, themes and what personally touches/inspires you the most: The Lord of the Rings, or The Chronicles of Narnia?

Since I have not read Tolkien, my cast goes to Lewis.  I really like Edmund in the books and the movies – he is so brave, but gentle too… and I will never forgive Lewis for making Susan bad.

5.      Are there other books and movies of the fantasy/fairy-tale/legend genre that have you read and loved, especially from modern authors? Please tell us a little bit about them.

Not many, I’m afraid.  Oh – I’ve read Redwall, which is about an abbey of peaceable mice that is attacked by Clooney the Scourge and his band of evil (and rather stupid) rats, stoats and weasels.  With loveable characters like Basil Stag Hare, Constance the Badger and Matthias, it is one that our entire family has enjoyed more than once.

6.      Have you read any Christian allegories, such as Pilgrim's Progress, Holy War or Hinds Feet on High Places? 

I have read Pilgrim’s Progress.  I have always enjoyed retellings of things in such a way, that I have to think and define a meaning from it.  I think my favourite passage is a conversation between Christian and Faithful.  I love this passage because of the reminder of how we have grace under hrist, but were only condemned under the law of Moses.

Faithful: But, good brother, hear me out. So soon as the man overtook me, it was but a word and a blow; for down he knocked me, and laid me for dead. But when I was a little come to myself again I asked him wherefore he served me so. He said because of my secret inclining to Adam the First. And with that he struck me another deadly blow on the breast, and beat me down backward; so I lay at his foot as dead as before. So when I came to myself again I cried him mercy: but he said, I know not how to show mercy; and with that he knocked me down again. He had doubtless made an end of me, but that one came by and bid him forbear.

Christian: Who was that that bid him forbear?

Faithful: I did not know him at first: but as he went by, I perceived the holes in his hands and in his side: Then I concluded that he was our Lord. So I went up the hill.

Christian: That man that overtook you was Moses. He spareth none; neither knoweth he how to shew mercy to those that transgress the law.

Faithful: I know it very well; it was not the first time that he has met with me. ‘Twas he that came to me when I dwelt securely at home, and that told me he would burn my house over my head if I stayed there.

7.      Share some of your most well-loved heroines from fantasy tales in literature (books, movies, modern and classics), and why you love them so much! What virtues/traits in them would you like to have yourself?

I like Lucy in The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.  She is so cute (I have a soft spot for all children, but especially cute ones just melt my heart entirely!  ;) )  I also love her loyalty and bravery.

8.      Which land would you rather go, dwell in, or be a part of: Middle-Earth, or Narnia? (or maybe some other fantasy-land, you share!)

Narnia, every time!  :D

9.      What kind of fantasy are you most fond of? Fantastical and "fairy-tale-ish" like Alice in Wonderland, Beauty and the Beast or Cinderella, or rather the mythological, high-epic-fantasies such as Tolkien's?

As I haven’t read too much of the high-epi-fantasies, and I do really love fairy tales, I’ll say fairy tales.

10. Which is your favourite fairy-tale? 

I don’t know – I love heaps of them!  I am rather fond of Beauty and the Beast, probably because I played keyboard for the town’s musical of BATB a few years back.

11. List some of your most well-loved movie adaptions of fantasy tales (this does not include Disney fairy-tale animations). 

Were you afraid we were all going to say Frozen?  ;)   I think the best movie adaption of a fairy tale is Ever After starring Drew Barrymore. 

12. Who are your favourite heroes from fantasy books? (you may list as many as you like!) Tell us a little bit about why you love them so much :).

Aslan from LWW (I think that reason is obvious!)

13. Saddest moment in any fantasy tale you've either watched or read?

It’s really sad in LWW movie when Peter, Susan and Lucy think that Edmund has died on the battle field.  :(

14. How did you get into The Lord of the Rings and Middle-Earth books/movies? (If you're not into LOTR than you can talk about how you got into Narnia instead).

Not having read LOTR… :)

Mum read LWW to me and my next sister when I was about 10 or 11, I think.  I remember huddling together under the covers in delicious terror when the witch killed Aslan.  We both made big wall posters based on the book which were pretty cool.

15. Give a list (preferably with pictures!) of your favourite fantasy/medieval costumes/armour/gowns and from which movie/character they come from.

Ohhh!  I am a sucker for pretty clothes!  :D  Here goes!

I love the simplicity of the medieval thing that Susan has happening.

How gorgeous is this dress from Voyage of the Dawn Treader?!!

And this dress of Susan's is really pretty too.

16. Which fantasy/fairy-tale has inspired and influenced you the most?

You must be tired of this title now, but The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe remains one of the most powerful allegories to the mercy and sacrifice of Christ ever written.  To think that Christ, all powerful and holy, would step in for our sin just as Aslan did for Edmund, is absolutely mind blowing.

17. Favourite character in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings/Hobbit universe? Favourite character in The Chronicles of Narnia? (Choose 1 each)

I can’t choose between Edmund or Susan!

18. Favourite friendship in a fantasy book/movie/series?

Lucy and Mr. Tumnus’s friendship is so cute.  :D

19. Which villain of fantasy strikes the most dread and loathing in you? Which foe strikes the most pity?

The witch is the most dreadful character ever.  I don't waste much sympathy on foes.  ;)

20. Share some of your most well-loved quotes from fantasy books/movies :). 

My favourite quotes from the LWW movie are from the beavers.  Oh, and this one from the kids.

Mr. Beaver: Come this way – I know Mr. Tumnus!

Susan: Wait!  What are we doing?

Peter: He said he knew the faun.

Susan: He’s a beaver – he shouldn’t be saying anything!

Voyage of the Dawn Treader has some hilarious moments as well, like this one:

Mother says I have an acute consitution, due to my intelligence.

21. Favourite battle in a fantasy book or movie?

The battle in Eragon is pretty epic.

22. Tell us which romance couple you love best in any of the fantasy stories you know about.

I don’t know!!!  I can’t stand the romance between Susan and Caspian, mainly because she couldn’t stay in Narnia and had to leave, but still insisted on saying good bye to him ‘lover-style’.  ;) 

23. Elves or dwarves? Gondor or Rohan? Aragorn or King Tirian?

Dwarves are kinda cute creatures, but elves are weird.  :P

24. Who is your favourite side-kick (secondary character) in books/movies of this genre? (you are welcome to choose more than one ;). 

Tricky.  For some strange reason I have always had a soft spot for the fox in LWW.  I know he doesn’t have a big part – at all – but there’s just something about him.  Does he count???  ;)

25. List five fantasy novels you are especially looking forward and eager to read in the near future.

I am planning to read Eragon, and maybe the Hobbit in the nearish future.  I am also hoping to read “Alice in Wonderland” to Rosie one day soon.

26. Which fantasy work struck you with the most sense and depth of faith and the author's perception of morality, ethics, the distinction and battle between good and evil, and the Christian walk? Can you share a little bit about it?

Pilgrim’s Progress is one that you can see straight through the writing to the author’s heart.  John Bunyan was so passionate about his personal walk with Christ and encouraging others in the faith that it just spills over in his book.

27. What was the first fantasy novel you ever read and how did it strike you?

I don’t remember really… it was probably, LWW or Alice in Wonderland.

28. What would inspire you to pick up a work of fantasy literature or watch a fantasy film? What do you believe are both the benefits, negatives and overall effects of enjoying this genre?

I don’t really get ‘inspired’ to read something as such – I tend to graze through my books, meandering here and there, starting this, finishing that.  If I picked up a fantasy book, I would probably read a few chapters, and if it didn’t grab me, I would probably put it down again (call me fickle, but that’s that.  :P).  As for films, I generally watch whatever Dad’s watching, so if that’s fantasy, I get a taste of it, and more often than not, depending on characters and plot, I’ll quite enjoy it.  :)  I think I outlined the pros and cons of fantasy in question one.