February 2020 Wrap-Up

Hello, friends!

~ Happenings ~ 

// I went running errands with my sister Lissa. We'd just had a big snowstorm and we’re too short to see over the snowbanks! It was a fun ride. xD 

(Snowbanks in Montreal)

    

    (Snowbanks at home)

// I reread allll the Emily Abbott books to get ready for the second season. I'M SO EXCITED. I'd forgotten how much I loved them & how good they were. Book 7 is scheduled to come out in March and I can't wait!!

// I did A LOT of blog prep. I've only got December + a bit of November left to do for OFBL, and for LBFJ I've got most of posts already decided on & need to write them up. It's a lot of work but it will be helpful, I think. And I like being prepared. ;D And I also majorly updated & formatted my Book pages on OFBL.

  

    ^^side note: as of March 2, I have 113 posts ready & scheduled for OFBL.

// I reread Constance Savery's “Reb & the Redcoats” with Mary, and enjoyed it so much, and picked up on a super cute & sweet thing, and remembered why I loved the book so much... its so goo

 

// I edited & rewrote a little of my short story (< 5,000 words) Just Allissa. I will be running through it one more time sometime this year and then I'll be publishing (aka putting the files in Dropbox for you all to access it) during September or October. :) 

// You guys. I finally reached a major reading goal of mine. I finished the Questions of War series. Finally. I was so happy. But also so broken. ;) 

 

// Talking of reading (I read an insane amount of books this month, even more than in January), I did a lot of reading. I reread Alice's Adventures in Wonderland + Through the Looking-Glass, Heidi, and many Indie books. I also started the Elsie Dinsmore series. As of March 2 I've just started Elsie's Womanhood. I'm really enjoying the books so far! I also finally restarted & finished A Tale of Two Cities... oh my heart. No book ever made me cry with joy hours after I finished it... except this one. Sydney Carton, people. So real. Such an amazing redemption. <33

    ^^My friends know me well.... 

   

// ALSO. I RECEIVED A SIGNED COPY OFFFFF.... 

AHHHHH!!! I was so happy. This is one of my top 10 Favourite Indie books and one I was really implicated in AND I HAVE A SIGNED COPY!!! No one ever sends Canadian readers signed copies. I'm so happy. ;D

// I took some very complex (at least for me) bookstagram pictures. And I also participated in the #IndieLove20 challenge & spotlighted an Indie Author book every day except Sunday on my bookstagram. It was so fun!! I also got a story of theme for a while, which made me happy... 

// We had doughnuts for breakfast one morning. That was unexpected and so nice. :) 

// I also published my 100th post on this blog!!! It was the one on Rejecting Prejudice--very fitting, I think, because it's a topic I believe deeply in & think often about, and also this blog is a place for me to talk about deep stuff like that. 

// I looked through some old videos on my phone & just soaked in the scenery. I miss summer so much!!! Thank God it's almost April--which means spring will start coming. But I'm also trying to be content in the season I'm in. :) 

// Little joys... I learned how to change colours on Instagram stories and how to get the degrees symbol!! XD And the colours changed on my IG chats for one account and I LOVE THEM. 

// I listened to my (Scottish) folk song playlist again. I had stopped for a time because my earphones broke (yes, I know, again. I DON’T KNOW WHY MY EARPHONES BREAK SO MUCH. Though a little sibling did help these along. 😏 I’m trying extra hard to be extra careful with these.) Anyways. Now I’m listening to my folksong playlist & my hymns playlist and I’m falling in love all over again... I love these songs & these hymns so. very. much. I also discovered Rule, Brittania which I have heard a lot of but never listened to. It was like finally meeting an old friend... and I'm in love. IT'S SO BRITISH. <33 and the tune!! Oh, and The Minstrel Boy, too. Love it so much!!! 

Rule, Britannia!

Britannia, rule the waves.

Britons never, never, never shall be slaves.

^^the chorus is my favourite part!! <33 

As for The Minstrel Boy, I love the whole thing :D

 

// I finally write down some quotes from Sheffey that I had marked down & now I want to rewatch it...

 

// I think I finally nailed the getting up early thing... XD But it's still harddddd... Now that I have 6:00 rising down I'm aiming for 5:00 rising!  

// A used the Rain Rain app constantly and created some amazing mixes. ;D 

// I did A LOT of this This or That thing. It’s sooo much fun. Bet my followers were properly sick of me though. XD I also did some 3-things-about-me and recommended books of specific genres!

  

// My mother has discovered this amazing math program & she's been doing it with my younger siblings and she's been encouraging me over & over to do it because she thinks it would really help me (I'm horrible at math and can barely do mental addition.) So I finally started. Due to the craziness of the end of this month I didn't do much. But already I love it! 

// And speaking of math, this happened...

// I reread Enemy Brothers again. ;D This time I Buddy-Read it with Kassie. It felt so good to be once more in that book. It always helps to make me feel calm & at peace--it's home. It's comfortable. I chatted it over with Kassie & with Mary (guys, we talk of SO. MANY. THINGS--and we really talk of crazy stuff--but no matter what we start with we usually end up back on EB. Honestly) and I also journaled my way through reading it. I'm planning a post with a tour of my EB journal and my notes on EB, so stayed tuned for that. :) We also used the Reading Guide which Mary & I created, which was super fun. And I found plenty of stuff to fix. XP

 

// I started adding more stuff to the wall above my desk! My word of the year, my hymn of the year, my verses of the year, & my quote of the year, + two lists of productivity tips & some verses I'm memorizing. I love it! 

// I finally dug out an old WIP called The Tangled Web (and confused everyone by calling it TW so now I call it T.Web xP) It's a historical fiction mystery, and so I decide that I was going to throughly outline it before I started wiring on it again. I'm also doing a TON of research because I want it to be as accurate as possible. And I'm having so much fun. 

    ^^Researching shipwrecks in 1833 was the coolest thing ever. Just sayin'.

 

   ^^You know you're an author when you spend hours researching the perfect illness for your character. Let me tell you, now I know why so many people died in the 19th century.  

// I'm so happy with my hair!! MONAT is making it so nice. <33 

// I had a lot of fun posting pictures & pairing them quite poems or quotes. :) 

   

  

// I painted my nails. I'm trying hard tomato them grow and that's one way to keep from chewing them. And nail polish just makes me so happy. Unfortunately, two years ago I developed an allergic reaction to nailpolish and so I quit wearing it. In December I tried wearing basecoat/topcoat and that gave me no problems, so this month I tried the whole kit & caboodle. I still had a reaction, but it wasn't too bad, so I will probably start painting my nails again--and I'm so glad!! I also FINALLY have some nails and I'm jubilating. Only they break easily because they're so weak.   

I swear that's progress...

// I tried out the screen time thing on my phone that keep me off apps during certain hours. I can't get it to work for my particular schedule and it's driving me crazy XD but it's also really helpful so I'm keeping it on. 

// After looking through my mother's library I decide to add my name and the date I got it to my books. So far I've only done EB, lol, but I plan to do the rest too. :)   

// I now have 6 journals. My EB one (in which I transcribe reflections about EB), my 5-year diary (because it's cool to see how things change over 5 years), my regular diary (because I have way more stuff to say than I have room for in the 5-year one), my church journal (for sermon notes, which I'm not very good at because I often forget my pen), my devotions journal, and my reading journal (which I am really enjoying). XP 

// Random.... 

^^ Found this out by accident while researching T. Web!

^^ Too accurate. 

^^This. <33 My Heavenly Father never ceases to amaze me.

    ^^Bet you didn't know that. 

    

    ^^ Patterns are so important to me. 

    ^^In case you forgot, spiders freak me out. 

    ^^I have a thing for poetry, if you haven't noticed.

    ^^This quote. Oh my word. Hit me like a brick. I can't ask or seek to grow & not be watered or stretched.

    ^^PSA in case anyone was interested. XP

    ^^My writing prayer. <33 

 

    ^^It wouldn't be a Wrap-Up post without some of these texts, would it? xP

    ^^ #nowordsneeded

    ^^ THIS. This is one of my favourite hymns ever. <33

    ^^ Ahem, yeah....

    ^^Still working on this one, so if you'd like to write in any assumptions about me, I'd be so grateful!

    ^^Remembered this by accident, looked it up, & fell in love again... 

    ^^This was fun!!!

    ^^For some reason I did a lot of random facts about me this month...

    ^^Did I mention that spider creep me out?? 

    ^^I'm glad I'm not the only one. 

    ^^This filter is so extreme but I love it. xP

    ^^TATTERED WINGS RELEASED & I'M SO HAPPY.

    ^^So glad I finished before March!!

    ^^This is so creepily true...

    ^^ ALL. THE. TIME. 

~Reading~

Books Read: 48.

2 stars: 2 books. 

2.5 stars: 3 books. 
3 stars: 10 books. 

3.5 stars: 1 book.

4 stars: 5 books.

4.5 stars: 1 book.

5 stars: 5 books. 

5+ stars: 7 books. 

(these are approximate bc they aren't showing updated ratings for rereads)

~Favourite Blog Posts~ 

5 Ways to Support Your Single Friends | The Destiny of One
About Those Farmers | Professor Carol
Book Buddy Collab Tag | Kaitlyn Krispense, Author
Book Buddy Collab Tag | Stories by Firefly
Did I do this Surrender Thing Right? | With a Joyful Noise
Focus Counts | Loved Before Time
A Grateful Single | Loved Before Time
The Happy Houseplant || Why Are My Plants Dying? | Victoria Paige
How to create Hygge in the Workplace | 'Tis Me, Vee
How to Get Through a Long Flight + A Carry-on Checklist for TCKs | 'Tis Me, Vee
How To Help & Encourage Creative Indies | The Fearless Type
How To Keep Your Author's Voice Consistent Even Across Genres | The Fearless Type
How To Pray For Your Family | Choose Joy Day by Day
How to Salvage A Gone Wrong Passion Project | The Fearless Type
It Mattered | Loved Before Time
It's Okay to Stop | Mikayla Holman
Is He Everything You Need? | Choose Joy Day by Day
Lessons in Book Classification | The Destiny of One
Live! | Loved Before Time
My Passion for Young Teen Readers | The Destiny of One
My Top Five Reads of 2019 | Stories by Firefly
Never Have I Ever Tag (Writer Edition) | Once Upon an Ordinary
The Never Have I Ever Tag | Writer's Edition | Stories by Firefly
“Not My Will, But Thine” | Everyday Blooms
Purpose // 2020 | Victoria Lynn
Purpose // 2020 Pt 2 | Victoria Lynn
Rangers Lead the Way – Snippets | Soldier Girl Stories
Rangers Lead the Way – RELEASE DAY | Soldier Girl Stories
Rangers Lead the Way – Wrapup | Soldier Girl Stories
Roses are Red, Violets are Blue... | Read Another Page
Tattered Wings is Finally Here! | Life of Heritage
Trees of Righteousness  | Choose Joy Day by Day
Using your story to bring hope | The Destiny of One
Warrior // 2019 Pt 2 | Victoria Lynn
With Christ in the Vessel We Can Smile at the Storm | Choose Joy Day by Day
What is Age Appropriate? | The Destiny of One
Your Guide to Epic Buddy Reads (pt. 1) | Once Upon an Ordinary

Your Guide to Epic Buddy Reads (pt. 2) | Mikayla Holman 

~ // ~ 

Tell me... how was your February??

8 Ways to Implant a Habit

For a long, long time I've had habits that I've wanted to implant. They include:

• Wash my face twice a day.
• Brush my teeth twice a day.
• Brush my hair every day.
• Read my Bible every day.
• Write in my diary every day.
• Post daily on my bookstagram.
• Eat better.
• Sleep better.
• Get up early.
• Drink more.
• and other random projects that I want to work on every day.

As you may have guessed, I've struggled with implanting these into my day. In the last two years I finally nailed the three basic hygiene habits. Last year I struggled hard with the rest of those goals. This year, I've suddenly found myself including those habits into my day. What happened?

The answer is just that I did them every single day. 

It sounds easy, doesn't it?

Let me tell you, it's not.

But there are ways to make it easier.

Today I will be sharing with you the ways that I have managed to acquire these habits.


1. Put them on your to-do list. 
Have you got a list of things you have to do today? (If not, you should. I promise it will save you time & energy!!) Put down all these things you're trying to do. Each time you see them written down, you'll be reminded--oh yeah, I want to ________. 

2. Have the objects you need to use visible.  
Keep your hairbrush on your desk. Stack your diary and notebooks next to your bed. Set out your music stand. If it's not practical to have the object (or an object) out, then write yourself some sticky notes and put them in a prominent place. Making them pretty, witty, or funny might help keep you from being unhappy about seeing them all the time. ;)

3. Appoint times to do those things.   
If you always write in your diary before bed, or brush your hair before you leave your room, or take a drink when you switch projects, you'll be reminded to do them. Appoint a time for practising your instrument and set a timer for it. If you can't do it then for some reason, snooze the timer!

4. Set a certain number of minutes to work on a given daily project.
30 minutes of writing a day. 10 minutes of Bible memorization. 5 minutes of stretching. Whatever. Set an amount of time to do something daily and time yourself as you do it. Pause the timer and return later if you have to.

5. Be conscious of your bad habits & counteract them. 
So you want to get up at 5 a.m. every day... but you don't close your phone until 11 p.m. Ehhh... yeah. Be conscious that you have a hard time getting off your phone, and find a way to counteract that. Put it out of reach, put on screen time, get someone to text you at 10 p.m. to warn you off your phone... whatever. Just find a way to make a new habit. Instead of picking up your phone when you get into bed, pick up a book or your Bible. Or work on poetry or Scripture memorization. Find something else to do instead of your bad habit. This stands for any bad habit.

6. Make it easier on yourself.
Do you want to post every day on your bookstagram? Keep a running list of ideas. Take lots of extra pictures that you can use. Write some posts in advance. Whatever it is that you want to do every day, find ways to make it easier for yourself to do this thing every day.

7. Get an accountability partner. 
We're proud critters. (Any Sheffey fans out here?!) We don't like to admit that we failed. Having an accountability partner can keep you motivated. They can encourage, threaten, praise, or comfort you. It can be someone who's trying to do the same thing or who's willing to partner over different stuff. Either way, this can be a great help.

8. Choose to do it. 
All the help in the world won't help you unless you help yourself. No one can make you choose to do this. You have to choose yourself. If you genuinely choose to do it and are absolutely determined to do it, you can do it. Ask the Lord for His strength. Be willing to sweat and hurt and work hard. Endurance brings satisfaction. :)

~ / / ~

There you are! I hope you found those tips helpful. Let me know of your tips for implanting habits! :)

Having Real, Pure Joy

When this journal prompt came out, I came upon the blog post and prepared to answer the answers in the comments. But the first question stopped me. 

What brought me real, pure joy?

In my heart, I knew it wasn’t Jesus. Other people said reading their Bible, or praying. For me, it was nothing of the kind. It had nothing to do with the Lord. Possessions & friends were what made me happy. 

So I didn’t do that challenge. Because I couldn’t. I didn’t have joy. I had a type of happiness. But not True, Pure Joy. 

Fast-forward to 2020. I remembered these journal prompts (there are several) and remembered that I wanted to do them. I’d forgotten what they were, but I found that the February one was this one—Discovering Joy in Jesus.

This time I had no problem answering these questions. My answers were true and heartfelt. I have joy in my Jesus. 

This year I’ve been trying hard to choose joy daily and intentionally. I’ve discovered that the joy of my Lord is my strength. I have discovered that choosing joy in the midst of circumstances CAN be done—but only in Him. I am so much happier now than I was in 2018 or 2019.

Because I have surrendered to the Lord. 

Surrender brings joy. I believe that with all my heart. Because I’ve lived it out. 

Surrendering myself to God and truly obeying & following Him has made a radical change in me. 

I’ve found joy. 

And I am never going back to that dreary desert of my own will and pleasure. Choosing God’s will and pleasure made roses blossom in my wilderness. I won’t look back. 

I have found His grace is all complete,

He supplieth every need;

While I sit and learn at Jesus’ feet,

I am free, yes, free indeed.

Refrain:

It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,

Full of glory, full of glory;

It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,

Oh, the half has never yet been told.

I have found the pleasure I once craved,

It is joy and peace within;

What a wondrous blessing, I am saved

From the awful gulf of sin.

I have found that hope so bright and clear,

Living in the realm of grace;

Oh, the Savior’s presence is so near,

I can see His smiling face.

I have found the joy no tongue can tell,

How its waves of glory roll;

It is like a great o’erflowing well,

Springing up within my soul.

Refrain:

It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,

Full of glory, full of glory;

It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,

Oh, the half has never yet been told.

Barney E. Warren

These things have I spoken unto you, 

that my joy might remain in you, 

and that your joy might be full.

-John 15:11-