House Sitting, Book Fair, and the Arrival of Fall || September Recap

Tomorrow is October. If you freaked out when you realized that, you're not alone.

But whether you're on the "YAY FALL" team or the "COME BACK SUMMER" team, the season is upon us, so we might as well enjoy it. ^-^

|| Life. ||

>> So I got a house-sitting/dog-sitting job. For three weeks, so technically I'm still here until Wednesday. The independence is pretty cool, but I'm getting tired of having to drive 30+ minutes to get ANYWHERE. xD


>> I had a table at a local author book fair on the second Saturday of the month! Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures, but it was a super amazing time! And I sold over a dozen copies of my books. :D


>> I laughed over my family's insanity.

*starts raining*
Dad: *runs out to cover the paint sprayer*
Mom: Quick, sign the birthday card!
Tucker: *innocently* That was so smart of you, Mom, to make it rain so he'd have to leave the house.

>> My songs on repeat this month were...  Fly, After the Storm Blows Through, No Place Like You, and Downside of Growing Up by Maddie & Tae, and Always Sing, Lonely Call, Say, Love Triangle, and For a Boy by RaeLynn, and Leaving New Orleans and Slow Dance in a Parking Lot by Jordan Davis... What can I say? Being alone in a quiet house calls for lots of jam sessions.


>> I guest posted on my friend Ashley's blog! Read the post here, and check out the rest of the Month of Friendship series while you're there.


>> I watched a gazillion movies, y'all. Mostly Hallmarks. A Country Wedding, Soldier Love Story, Chance at Romance, The Wedding March 4, All of My Heart: Inn Love & The Wedding, and Soldier of Destiny. Plus Garage Sale Mysteries, Flower Shop Mysteries, Hailey Dean Mysteries, Morning Show Mysteries, and Aurora Teagarden Mysteries.

|| Books. ||

// Reads

Goldfish Secrets by Kellyn Roth -- 4 stars -- Review here.
The Twin Arrows by Kate Willis -- 4 stars
Yours Forever by Robin Jones Gunn -- 4 stars
Surprise Endings by Robin Jones Gunn -- 4 stars
Island Dreamer by Robin Jones Gunn -- 4.5 stars
A Heart Full of Hope by Robin Jones Gunn -- 3.5 stars
Faithful by Rebekah A. Morris -- 4.5 stars
Waiting for His Return by Carrie Turansky -- 4.5 stars
The Prisoner's Wife by Susan Page Davis -- 5 stars
Praying for Your Future Husband by Robin Jones Gunn & Tricia Goyer -- 5 stars
Give Attendance by Rebekah A. Morris -- 5 stars
Sometimes: A Storyteller's Journal by Deanna Lawrence -- 4 stars


I'm not going to list them, because I don't have pictures, but I got fourteen books from three different book sales/fairs. :D

|| Writing. ||

So writing was kind of interesting this month... I wrote about 5,000 words, edited most of Behold, and got some inspiration for editing War Tears. But other than that? I feel like I've been in a dry season which I'm slowing pulling out of it. And it was kinda awful, but it's getting better. I hope.

On another note, I found this quote on Pinterest and I LOVE IT. If we're not writing from our hearts, writing what we honestly think and genuinely feel down deep inside... what are we doing? How can we expect to make a difference in the world while hiding our true selves behind a facade? <33

|| Blogging. ||

// Favorite Posts 

Summer of 1999 ~ The First Time

Whimsical Writings for His Glory ~ Life Changes

The Barefoot Gal ~ Learning How to Embrace the Pain in Change

Dancing in the Rain ~ Sweet Dreams

One Name ~ God is Still in Control

Apples of Gold ~ Your Purpose Proceeds You

Life of Heritage ~ When Enough is Enough

Authoring Arrowheads ~ Hurricane Florence

RebekahAshleigh ~ Fall...One of my Favorite Seasons

// My Posts 

|| Goals. ||

~ September Goals 

>> Read 8 books.      Scored.

>> Send Behold to beta-readers.      Unscored? They'll be getting it this week though. xD

>> Edit pt.1 of War Tears.      Uh, nope. I haven't even touched that mess. Gotta get things rolling with Behold first.

>> Be a hosted author at a local book fair.       Yes, and it was F.A.B.U.L.O.U.S.

>> Host another readathon.     Yup! Rebekah, Brooklyne, Katja, Ryana, and I had so much fun that weekend! :D

~ October Goals

>> Read 8 books.

>> Start working full-time. *fingers crossed*

>> Send Behold to betas and apply feedback.

>> Edit pt.1 of War Tears.

>> Take part in the Five Fall Favorites party. (Starts tomorrow!)

Welp, this ended up rather lame and to the point, but I suppose that's all right. 

How was your month, pals? Buy any books? Have a favorite post? Are you excited for the party next week? 

~Faith

20 Years Ago...

Brick church...

Girls in green dresses...

Guys in black tuxes...

Bride in a white gown...

Twenty years ago, two people said "I do" and set forth on the adventure of a lifetime. Those two people became my parents.

And, unlike with many marriages, they're still together. Two decades later. Twenty years. Two-hundred and forty months. Seventy-three hundred days. However you want to look at it, that's a long time.

That's two kids and twelve years of homeschooling.

That's starting a business, while still keeping up with the tree farm.

That's four churches, serving three as pastor and pastor's wife, Sunday school teachers, youth leader, mission trip chaperones.

These people are pretty amazing, y'all.

Mom, for eighteen years you've been my mother, my teacher, my friend, my confidant, my mentor, my chauffeur, my Sunday school teacher. You're an amazing and wonderful woman of God.

Dad, for eighteen years you've been my father, my friend, my confidant, my mentor, my teacher, my pastor, my protector, my chauffeur, my provider, You're a strong and faithful man of God.

And I love you both very much.

And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. ~ Ecclesiastes 4:12 kjv

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad. Here's to twenty more. <3 

The Hallmark Movie tag + Upcoming Readathon

Hey, friends! My friend RebekahAshleigh tagged me to do her Hallmark movie tag a few months ago, and I'm finally getting around to it. :D

I also updated the Firefly's Readathon page with details about the readathon this weekend. Hop on over and check it out!

What's the best Hallmark Christmas movie you've seen?

If The Bridge (both parts) can count as a Christmas movie...definitely that one. Love it so much, and the book is amazing too! <3

What's the best Hallmark movie you've seen?

Oh, wow, I don't know... Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The Impossible Dream would definitely be at the top of the list, along with the movie I previously mentioned.

What's your favorite Hallmark movie season?

I'll go with Christmas since I haven't really seen many from other seasons. xD I do love Christmas movies though!

The last Hallmark movie you saw?

The Hallmark movie I saw most recently was A Summer to Remember. It's set in Fiji, so there was lots of lovely scenery!

Have you ever decided to watch a Hallmark movie based off it's title?

I'm not 100% positive that it was the title that first drew me to it, but I'm going to go with Dashing Through the Snow. It's a really cute road-trip Christmas movie!

Do you like the Hallmark murder mysteries? If so, which one is your favorite?

I haven't saw any of the murder mysteries. ;) I'd like to try the Garage Sale Mysteries sometime though!

Favorite Hallmark series?

I love both the Hallmark TV series When Calls the Heart, and the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries series Signed, Sealed, Delivered. <33

A Hallmark movie that had you dying of laughter?

I watched All of My Heart for the first time a few weeks ago, and it was so funny! I was definitely 'dying of laughter.' ;D

Is there a Hallmark movie out that you haven't seen yet, but would like to?

There are several! To name a few, I plan to watch A Very Merry Mix-Up and Operation Christmas this holiday season, along with some others.

What's your most anticipated Hallmark movie?

I'm hoping to watch All of My Heart: Inn Love soon, and then the third All of My Heart movie as soon as it comes out. And I'm definitely looking forward to When Calls the Heart season 6!



I'm going to 'cheat' and not tag anyone by name, but if you're a Hallmark fan, you should totally give this one a spin!

What's your favorite Hallmark movie? Have you saw any of these? 

~Faith