Saturday Snickers - 4/23/16

I can't tell you how many times people ask me, "Are you okay? Is something wrong," when I am just sitting there contentedly, staring off into space.

Merry Christmas 2015!

     Did you all have an awesome Christmas like I did? 

     Ever since I was a little girl in pigtails, I could never sleep on Christmas Eve. Like ever. Without fail, I wake up every hour, on the hour.

     "Only three more hours . . . just two more hours to go . . . one hour . . . ok, NOW I can get up." :D

     Home Christmases are the best, in my humble opinion. There's nothing better than sitting in the living room, with only the lights of the Christmas tree making the room glow with a warmness that only comes on Christmas.

     And you may quote me.

     Here's a few pictures of our wonderful Christmas. There aren't a lot, because we were busy making memories and laughing our heads off.

Our "homemade" looking tree

Mom's cinnamon rolls

Our little chalkboard that we change everyday to be one day less <3

I got my brothers beard ornaments (yes, ornaments for your beard)!

At my Grammy's house

Christmas dinner

So many desserts!!

And a little humor...

Books You MUST Read

     We're heading into winter, when you're cooped up inside with no place to go and nothing to do. You've read all the books you own. Voila! That's where I come in!

(Books marked with an * are available in the church library. 

Books with ** means they are in the LC library.)

1. The Homelanders Series by Andrew Klavan**

     It usually takes me a long time to read a book, much less an entire series. My friend (I hope you're reading this, Jillian :D) encouraged me to start the first book. I did, quite skeptical that I would finish the book, or even like it.

     I surprised myself. You know how they say in book reviews, "I couldn't put it down"? Well, I literally couldn't. Every chapter has a plot twist that eventually develops the whole picture. A couple of times, my jaw actually dropped, it was so surprising and unexpected. Totally awesome book!

2. The Importance of Being Ernest by Oscar Wilde

     This is a great {short} book to read in one sitting. It's an humorous play with quirky, unique characters and a surprise ending! It's also sorta funny to read the "thee's" and thou's!" And it's available for free on Kindle!

3. Rachel's Tears by Beth Nimmo and Darrell Scott (Rachel's parents)*

     This book is, by far, one of the most moving books I have ever read. It tells the story of Christian teen Rachel Scott, and how she was brutally martyred for her faith at a shooting at her high school. It has excerpts of her private prayer journals and letters to God. There's no doubt that her spiritual walk was alive and thriving, and that she is in Heaven right now.

4. The Knights of Arrethrae Series by Chuck Black*

     I. Love. This. Series. It's action-packed, set in medieval times, with a Biblical allegory in each book! They include: Sir Kendrick, Sir Bentley, Sir Dalton, Lady Carliss, Sir Quinlan, and Sir Rowan. The books in this series don't build on one another, so you can read them in any order. Chuck Black has also written The Kingdom Series*, which is equally as awesome.

5. The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom*

     This is such a great book! It tells the story of one woman's EXTRAordinary faith in the midst of the Nazi takeover of Holland, her home country. She survives being in a Nazi concentration camp, starvation, extreme cold, and being imprisoned. Through it all, she keeps a smile on her face and tells others of the great God shes serves!

6. Tramp for the Lord by Corrie ten Boom*

     This book is a sequel to The Hiding Place. In this book, Corrie ten Boom tells of the opportunities she had, after the war ended, to share her experience with others, but more importantly, share Jesus Christ with them. It's packed with convicting stories of people who heard her story and got saved as a result!

7. Perfectly Unique by Annie F. Downs

     Aside from the a-ma-zing cover (:D), this book is perfect for teen girls!! The author is a Southern gal, so she's very down-to-earth and real. When you read it, it's like you're reading a letter from a friend!

     Each chapter highlights a different part of your body (feet, arms, hands, even shoulders, etc.) that you can use to praise God with! She talks about how she was really uncomfortable with her body as a teen girl and the crazy things she used to do to try to change the way her body looked. Really awesome book for teen girls of any age!

8. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

     I must end with a classic. I challenged myself last year. I said, "Brittany, you are going to sit down and read Pride and Prejudice. You're going to read all the weird language that they wrote in that era. You're going to read it with a British accent if necessary (which I did...)." 

     I had started reading it many, many times and just never got more than one-third of the way through. The first chapter. Of the first volume. But ya know what? Once I got going, I realized what a beautiful piece of literature it really is! Everyone thinks that it's just an gushy-mushy, lovey-dovey romance. And it sort of is . . . (I would not recommend young men to read this . . . LOL) 

     But there is a definitely lesson in the book for us: don't judge a person by the way he/she looks. Both Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy made quick judgments of one another before they even had a chance to get to know each other. Yes, there are some funny parts, like when Mr. Collins proposes to Lizzy. Overall, it's a pretty awesome book. Go read it. Now.

     Well, that concludes my personal book recommendations. Hope you enjoyed! Now go out there and educate your mind by reading. Kudos.

Disclaimer: the authors of the books I mentioned are not paying me to applaud their book; I'm doing it because I sincerely love all of these books.

{I Heart Winter Tag}

     So remember when I did this? That was so much fun! Let's do it again!

     But this time, WINTER!

     Okay, ready?

     Ready.

1. What is your favorite winter Starbucks drink?

     PEPPERMINT MOCHA!!! Yum yum yum!   

2. What is your favorite winter treat?

     Anything peppermint! But more specifically, peppermint bark. Mmmmm, so, so, so addicting!! Recipe coming soon. . .

3. Favorite winter food?

   Venison Chili. If you've never tried this, you need to come to my house and eat it. NOW. :D

4. Favorite Winter Accessory? 

     Probably either knee socks, leggings, or scarves.

5. Favorite winter lip product?

     If you're like me, your lips get SUPER chapped during winter. And that's why I love the Maybelline Babylips peppermint flavor! It leaves my lips feeling moisturized and peppermint-y fresh! Perfect!

6. Favorite movie to watch during the winter season?

     Probably most definitely "It's A Wonderful Life!" <3

7. What's your favorite thing to read during winter?

     Pretty much any book, cause it's soooo cold outside and soooo cozy inside. But I do LOVE reading classics, like Pride and Prejudice, Little Women, and such.

8. What's your favorite thing to do during winter?

     Either break out the knee socks, sweaters, and blankets and cuddle up with a hot chocolate.  OR go act like a little kid seeing snow for the first time and eat snowflakes, throw snowballs, and make snow angels. 

9. What's your favorite winter candle?

     BB&W's Fresh Sparkling Snow. I don't really know what snow smells like. I would guess it would smell like water?? But this candle smells a-ma-zing!!

10. What's your favorite winter body spray?

     It's a tie between BB&W's Vanilla Bean Noel and Winter Candy Apple! They're both so good!

11. Favorite winter humor? :D

     

12. Best way to spend a {snowy} night?

     As aforementioned, curling up with hot chocolate and a book <3

13. What's your favorite thing about winter?

     Hmmmmm, I would say that my favorite thing about winter would be CHRISTMAS!! I know that sounds cliche, but I seriously love Christmas!

14. What's your favorite memory of winter?

     This one's easy. It's would definitely be sledding down the hill behind church with my brothers! Yes, that is Ben carrying me on his back. <3

15. Who would you like to see complete the I Heart Winter tag?

     I really want to see Briar complete it!! Have fun!

{What I'm Thankful For}

Yes. I know, EVERYONE says that. But, it's Thanksgiving, what do you expect? 

1. Jesus Christ, Who died for me.

2. My family, who love loves me no matter what.

3. My church, who encourages me.

4. My friends, who keep me accountable.

5. America. 

6. Soldiers fighting overseas.

7. All the different seasons. 

8. Frozen yogurt.

9. Plenty of clothes and shoes.

10. COFFEE. 

11. Peanut butter.

12. A Bible in my own language.

13. Working mind, eyes, ears, and mouth.

14. A winter coat and scarf.

15. My iPod. 

16. A warm bed, pillows, and covers.

17. AC/Heat.

18. Teachers.

19. My beautiful brown hair. 

20. Christian music.

21. My pastor and youth pastor.

22. Jonathan. 

23. Fuzzy socks.

24. Leggings.

25. Chocolate. 

26. Books.

27. Laughter. 

28. Clean water to drink.

29. Hot showers.

30. Plenty of food. 

31. Electricity.

32. Green grass.

33. My health.

34. The hope, peace, and joy I can have in Jesus.

35. YOU, for reading this whole thing! 

Question: What are YOU thankful for??

Answer in the comments please!!