Literary Heroine Blog Party

Hello to you all! Today I am participating in Kellie's Literary Heroine Blog Party and am quite excited to tell you a little about myself and my bookish tendencies:)

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-Les Questions-

Introduce yourself! Divulge your life's vision, likes, dislikes,

aspirations, or something completely random!

My name is Elise :) I desire to be a godly woman, and am preparing to be a godly wife and mother someday. I love reading, knitting, cooking, organizing, and spending time with my family and friends.

I have wanted to learn how to play the accordion since I was a little girl, and reading Kellie's blog has made me want that more than ever. I also want to learn how to tap dance sometime:)

Every time I click the Google "follow" button on someone's blog, I hear the Ricky Nelson song, "I will follow you." (how's that for random??)

If you have never heard that song, I recommend you go listen to it now so that I am no longer the only one plagued by it :D

What, to you, forms the essence of a true heroine?

So often heroines in literature are rebellious, independent and headstrong, yet that is not what makes a true heroine. To me, a true heroine is humble and teachable, kind to all, and develops character as the pages turn. She is submissive to the authority in her life and serves her family wherever she can. In essence, a God-fearing woman is a true heroine :)

Share (up to) four heroines of literature that you most admire and relate to.

1. Molly Gibson would have to be at the top:)

2. Rose Campbell from Eight Cousins and Rose in Bloom

3. Emily Fox-Seton from The Making of a Marchioness

4. Edith Adelon from The Inheritance

Five of your favorite historical novels?

Ok, so my choices are not all novels, but here they are anyways...

1. A Bride Goes West

2. The Scarlet Pimpernel

3. Princess Ka'iulani

I can't think of anymore right now---sorry :(

Out of those five books who is your favorite main character and why?

I love Nannie Alderson from A Bride Goes West! She has such courage and determination and goes through so many hardships pioneering in Montana, even though she was brought up very well-to-do!

I love that it is a true story too:)

Out of those five books who is your favorite secondary character and why?

Hmmm...this is not a secondary character, but a second first character.....it would have to be Sir Percival Blakeney, Baronet :) Who doesn't love him???

If you were to plan out your dream vacation, where would you travel to - and what would you plan to do there?

So many places! I would love to go to: Scotland, Scandinavia, Italy, Spain, Gibraltar, South Africa, India, Alaska, Iceland, and North Idaho:) I would walk a lot wherever I was, and just look...and look....and look!

(my pinterest travel page)

What is your favorite time period and culture to read about?

I don't think I could choose, so I will skip this question :D (cheating I know)

You have been invited to perform at the local charity concert. Singing, comedy, recitation - what is your act comprised of?

Oh so hard to choose:) I might do a comedic song and dance with my sisters...that is if I could whack up the ginger to do that sort of thing in public :D Or perhaps a wild theatrical.

If you were to attend a party where each guest was to portray a heroine of literature, who would you select to represent?

I think I could do a jolly good imitation of Mary Bennet, or Gwendolen (of The Importance of Being Earnest), or Molly Gibson :)

What are your sentiments on the subject of chocolate?

That it should be consumed early and often, that it should be consumed with someone (I find chocolate is not half so delicious eaten alone), and that it should be enjoyed a little at a time:) I love dark the most, but also milk and white.

Favorite author(s)?

Goodness, here we go---Elizabeth Gaskell, P.G. Wodehouse, L.M. Montgomery, C.S. Lewis, Louisa May Alcott, J.M. Barrie, R.C. Sproul, the Botkin sisters, Elizabeth Prentiss, Shakespeare (comedies only), Charles Spurgeon, Jane Austen, George Macdonald, R.J. Rushdoony, need I go on? :)

Besides essentials, what would you take on a visiting voyage to a foreign land?

A journal, a camera, rough n' tumble boots, and a trusty hat.

Although those could be called essentials I guess:)

In which century were most of the books you read written?

A wide variety:)

In your opinion, the ultimate hero in literature is…

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the ultimate hero! But after Him, I love the story of Othniel, who took a whole city single-handedly in order to win Caleb's daughter for his wife. (Joshua 15: 16-17)

Describe your ideal dwelling place.

A small and cozy home with lots of sunshine and land, somewhere in Northern Idaho or Western Montana.

The house is organized, but comfy, with lots of books and knitting in handy places, children everywhere,

a yellow kitchen, a wood stove, chickens, some apple trees, and a garden for vegetables and flowers.

Sum up your fashion style in five words.

Feminine, vintage, western, colorful, and full of plain thingness:)

Have you ever wanted to change a character’s name?

Nopety-nope :D

In your opinion, the most dastardly villain of all literature is...

Uriah Heep from David Copperfield...*shivers*

Three favorite Non-fiction books?

1. The Bible

2. The Art of Divine Contentment

3. Institutes of Biblical Law

Your duties met for the day, how would you choose to spend a carefree summer afternoon?

A hammock, a book, a little knitting, and a strawberry kombucha :D

Create a verbal sketch of your dream hat - in such a way as will best portray your true character.

It would be a straw hat--simple, elegant, adaptable to most any situation.

I'm not sure that this portrays my true character, but I would definitely wear it :)

In the winter, it would be a cherry red wool beret, or taupe wool cloche.

Share the most significant event(s) that have marked your life in the past year.

My family and I have spent 5 out of the past 12 months in Idaho, and have grown to love the place and the people dearly. Our trips there have been the biggest event:) Probably my biggest challenge this year has been learning to be content not living in ID!

Share the Bible passage(s) that have been most inspiring to you recently.

"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance; for ye serve the Lord Christ." Colossians 3:23-24

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." Galatians 5:22-25

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Whew! I didn't think it would take me so long to write all that! I do hope you have enjoyed reading it, and that you will comment and tell me what you thought! :)

xoxo,

Elise

Organized

Hello there!

Today I want to share some pictures of my recent organizing projects with you.

I absolutely LOVE organizing things, big and small!

First, the library bookshelves. We moved our furniture around in November, and I got to arrange a bunch of books:)

before--

and after--

Sorry these shots are not very good quality :-/

After the library was mostly done, I rearranged the books in my room! I had outgrown my bookcase, so I snatched one from our basement. It still is none too large for my book collection! :) I especially enjoyed making this look pretty.

Hope everyone is enjoying some fine weather and perhaps "an excellent chocolate thing" as Janna would say :D

xoxo,

Elise

Friendship

"...though they cling together, no friends are true friends unless you, my God, bind them fast to one another through that love which is sown in our hearts by the Holy Ghost..."

-St. Augustine

On Learning Contentment

“Discontent is to the soul as a disease is to the body: it puts it out of temper and much hinders its regular and sublime motions heavenward. For my part, I do not know of any ornament in religion that more bespangles a Christian, or glitters in the eye of God and man more, than this of contentment. Nor certainly is there anything wherein all the Christian virtues work more harmoniously or shine more transparently than in this orb.

If there is a blessed life before we come to heaven, it is the contented life.”

-Thomas Watson

I have struggled with discontentment on many fronts in the past year, and I agree with Mr. Watson—the contented life is a heaven on earth! Discontentment makes all things in life taste bitter, and cuts us off from enjoying what God has given us. No matter what your life is like, you will always be able to find something with which to be discontented. But if you learn contentment, you will find as in Proverbs 27:7, “every bitter thing is sweet” because it comes from the hand of God. You will be secure in the knowledge that God is working everything in your life for your ultimate good. You will be able to trust Him, to rest in His sovereignty, and to delight in the gifts He gives you. I am learning this right now, however slowly and painfully. And I can tell you, the little tastes I have had of really being contented in God’s plan have been so wonderful! Pouting and pitying myself, though they feel good for a time, can never compare to this kind of deep rest in my Savior’s love for me.

I want to recommend a book by Thomas Watson. It is called “The Art of Divine Contentment,” and has been, and I pray will continue to be, a tool God uses to change my stubborn heart in this area. It is not long or hard to read, and I pray it will be a tool for sanctification in your life as it has been in mine. At this time of living in my father’s house and being unmarried, I believe contentment is one of the most important lessons I can learn. It applies in so many areas of life, and to learn it now will be invaluable in later trials.

I found the whole text of this book is available to read online here.

Just search for the book title and there it is! If you want to just read one chapter, I recommend chapter 14: Rules about Contentment. It is my favorite part of the book!

Or you can buy your own copy at Reformation Heritage Books.

“[One of the marks of Christian Maturity which a believer should seek is] an acquiescence in the Lord’s will founded in a persuasion of His wisdom, holiness, sovereignty and goodness.… So far as we can attain this, we are secure from disappointment. Our own limited views, and shortsighted purposes and desires, may be, and will be, often over-ruled; but then our main and leading desire, that the will of the Lord be done, must be accomplished. How highly does it become us, both as creatures and as sinners, to submit to the appointment of our maker! and how necessary is it to our peace! This great attainment is too often unthought of, and over looked; we are prone to fix our attention upon the second causes and immediate instruments of events; forgetting that whatever befalls us is according to his purpose, and therefore must be right and seasonable in itself, and shall in the issue be productive of good.

From hence arise impatience, resentment, and secret repinings [i.e., complaining], which are not only sinful but tormenting; whereas, if all things are in his hand, if the very hairs of our head are numbered; if every event, great and small, is under the direction of his providence and purpose; and if he has a wise, holy, and gracious end in view, to which everything that happens is subordinate and subservient;-then we have nothing to do, but with patience and humility to follow as he leads, and cheerfully to expect a happy issue....How happy are they who can resign all to Him, see His hand in every dispensation and believe that He chooses better for them than they possibly could for themselves!”

John Newton, an excerpt from a letter to a friend

The Clothesline

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Ode to the Backyard Clothesline

You'll say I'm "quaintly countrified,"

Old-fashioned--as you please,

But I love the sight of fresh, clean laundry

Tossing in the breeze.

To suspend each garment on the line,

Then give the wind full play;

To caress and gently fragrance

In that sweet "outdoorsy" way.

They bask in sunny radiance,

Towels neatly hung in rows;

Snowy linens snapping crisply,

Darling dancing baby clothes.

And when at dusk I gather them

I feel extremely blessed

That line-dried and sun-kissed cleanliness

Clothe the ones I love best.

by Juanita M. Vernon

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I do love clotheslines! We don't have one now, but we used to, and I miss it! The smell of your clothes and sheets is so good fresh off a clothesline! Today it feels like spring--sunny, blue skies, and warm. I know it's January, and I love cold weather, but I am enjoying the sunshine and warmth!

Have a blessed day!

xoxo, Elise

Our Christmas

In mid-December, we had the immense blessing of taking a trip to North Idaho to spend Christmas among dear friends! We stayed for a whole month and had a wonderful time! Here are a bushel of pictures from our sojourn:)

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Here's the view of the lake near our rental home:

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Rebecca and Libby at the Christmas Dance:

Kaitlin and I:

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We took a trip to visit Kaitlin and Rebecca and their family in Montana-what gorgeous country!

Libby, Rebecca, Ellie, and Bodie the dog:) Out on the frozen lake!

Annika and I, having a jolly old time on a fence:D

Reb & Lib:

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One afternoon, we met a few friends for ice-skating! Ellie, me, Stacey, Sarah, Libby, and a friendly little girl we met:)

Ellie is skating backwards, not me:D

Me and Sarah, matchy matchy:)

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Another afternoon, we drove out into the middle of nowhere and went 4-wheeling with our adopted Uncle. Libby drove one 4-wheeler with me clinging on behind, Uncle Bill drove the other with Ellie on the back.

And we went to the top! You could see so much up there!

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Here are a few pictures from a lovely walk Libby and I took one morning:

Libby:) I love that girl!

You may not have the privilege of knowing Libby personally, but let me tell you, she's a gem! She has a beautiful heart for the Lord and a desire to be a godly woman, and we all love her joyous personality!

Little ol' me:)

Ellie and I in a very typical Ellie-and-I pose:D

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One of our evening get-togethers with dear friends from church--we were playing a hilarious game of "Apples to Apples" :)

Carissa and Cassandra (definitely sisters:) puzzling over a card:

The Hale ladies sharing a laugh:

Libby celebrated her 20th birthday in Idaho!!! And she had a cake:)

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That's all for now! I hope you enjoyed getting a taste of our December in North Idaho! To all our Western friends, we miss you!!

xoxo,

Elise

A girl and her hope chest

Good morning! I've had this post up my sleeve for a few weeks and finally am putting it up:) This is a glimpse into my hope chest. There really isn't much in there, but what you see is very special.

My dear friend Kaitlin is the one that really got me excited about having a hope chest! My parents gave me one for my 21st birthday, and Kaitlin started me off with a lovely set of mocha bowls:)

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Bella, my stuffed lamb who sits on top of the chest:

My birthday present from Dad and Mom-a gorgeous Norwegian wool blanket:

My kitchen collection, almost all gifts from Kaitlin over the years:)

The Family Treasure coloring book by Noble Rose press-this is so sweet, and when I found it on sale, I had to have it for my hope chest:

A Carl Larsson (whose art I love!) tray and some yarn that I've been saving:

And I leave you with some good advice:D

xoxo, Elise