A Melodious Sonnet - Page 32 of 58 - Notes from a word-chaser

A Rich Week

February 16, 2018 by Esther Filbrun · 2 Comments

16 Feb

Life has been very full the last little while. And I’m loving it.

Last week was mostly spent tidying up after moving, finding new homes for all our things, etc.

This week, I worked two full days at my new job (helping out a family; SO much fun!), and starting a project I’ve taken a break on for the last two to three years: School work. And, while stretching, and while I am behind (I’m working on it, I promise!), I’ve been enjoying it so much.

I never officially finished highschool. I guess you could say I’m a dropout, but when I stopped doing it, I was just starting to get my website up and running, and was learning a TON about webdesign.

For the last two or three years, that has been my life. And it still is. I’ve still got a lot to do there. I have no idea how I’m going to balance it all, but I figure if I want something bad enough (like having the chance to learn more and still get my website work done), I’ll find a way to do it.

So this week, in between thinking about all the different things I need to do or keep in mind when working at my new job (like remembering to get noisy jobs done before nap-time!), I’ve been studying the ancient Americas. Did you know that advanced civilizations popped up in Central America before the Mayans—or at least ran concurrently with them? Or that in the Pacific Northwest, there were tribes of Native Americans who owned slaves and had a very defined caste system, as Captain Cook discovered when he visited? Or that some Native American cultures spent years planning some of their feasts?

I didn’t know those things. And between several different books that I’m currently reading right now that are scheduled in our school curriculum, I am finding a few fascinating tidbits.

Which is why I wanted to go back to doing school in the first place, so YAY!

I’ve also been reading Peace Child, and although the first chapters are fairly disgusting and hard to read, the transformation that I know is coming is going to be amazing to see too. And their reasoning behind why and how they did certain things…wow. Don’t get me started. Add in the language used to tell the story, and it’s a masterful book, which makes my readerly heart very happy!

So that’s a little of what I’ve been up to lately. Have you learned anything interesting or done something new (or the first in a long time) this past week?

What Dreams May Come Review and Blog Tour

February 12, 2018 by Esther Filbrun · 5 Comments

12 Feb

My brother and I bounced along in the back seat of the truck. Praise music was turned on fairly loudly in the front, and every once in a while one of us would look back to check on our load and make sure everything was staying in place. Already, we had stopped five or six times to try to tighten up straps enough to keep the tires on top of the things packed underneath them on the loaded trailer. It was a chore to make sure that they didn’t jiggle too far out—at one point, we had ended up with a tire dragging on the road, which isn’t very optimal in a high-speed zone!

However, by now, two and a half hours into our journey, things seemed to be settling down a bit. We were all heaving a tentative sigh of relief, especially since the last stop for a check had revealed that the most recent tighten-down and re-threading seemed to have worked. Finally able to relax some, and ready to enjoy the scenery, I checked the two chickens perched right behind our heads one more time. They seemed to be doing fine, with their cage securely fastened by a few bits of twine string to the bars across the back window of the truck. Their feathers were being blown around some, but not as much as they had been before we wrapped a coat around the more exposed sides of the cage.

Tugging my Kindle out of my bag, I was excited to finally be able to start the book I’d been waiting for several months to read, What Dreams May Come. And as the native bush, creeks, the occasional waterfall, and rivers slid by outside (and the chickens and tires stayed in place behind us), I lost myself in the story.

Some of the links below may be affiliate links. Your purchase through these links helps support this blog and my reading habits, at no extra cost to you. Thanks!

I don’t quite remember what I expected when I started reading What Dreams May Come, aside from a fascinating story, but it did not disappoint in the slightest!

About the book:

She’s got her heart set on becoming a missionary. He’s determined to recruit her for the job.

But is it possible to fall in love with someone you’ve never even met?

Susannah’s convinced that God has called her to the mission field. That’s why she’s serving him with single-minded focus in Orchard Grove, waiting for the day when she can leave her small town to take the gospel to the nations.

Is falling in love with her missionary recruiter part of God’s plan for her life or a distraction from the real goal?

Scott loves his life. Traveling the globe, offering spiritual support to missionaries around the world offers enough excitement that the loneliness hardly ever gets to him…

Until he receives an application from a young girl with a heart for the mission field as large as his own, a young girl he finds himself falling for even before they get the chance to meet face-to-face.

Unfortunately, a promise Susannah made to her family may tear her and Scott even farther apart than the miles that separate them.

Book one in an inspirational sweet romance series by award-winning Christian author Alana Terry, who has won awards from Women of Faith, The Book Club Network, Grace Awards, and several others, What Dreams May Come is based off of the author’s own experiences falling in love with (and eventually marrying) her missionary recruiter.

My thoughts:

Oh, this book. I hope I can get it in print one day—I really enjoyed it!

The thing that most caught me off guard, I believe, was the fact that this story deals with an immense amount of pain—Susannah faces not only losing a parent, then a boyfriend, but the loss of a pile of dreams because of one commitment that could not be put off. Although this dealt with some pretty heavy subjects, it never came off as too much (although it was agony to have to stop part-way through!), nor unrealistic. I loved it.

There were times that I was almost crying with Susannah as she faced supporting her sister while somehow dealing with her own loss. Things came crashing around her more than once, and each one was so realistic.

Then, too, there were times I was laughing out loud due to different circumstances—whether from comedy, courtesy of a very curious but somewhat confused child (Woong is absolutely adorable!); or sheer relief that the things I thought might happen didn’t.

Pain, hope, and love mix to make this book a one-of-a-kind romance (well, in my experience, which is admittedly not as informed as it could be!). However, in the experience I do have, this book struck a deep chord with me.

I, too, like Susannah, have had hopes and dreams dashed when I was least expecting it. The struggle—the agony of loss—came through in this story without the hype often found in other books. And Susannah’s struggle, not only to come to grips with the past but try to make sense of the future, were ones I’ve faced in the not too distant past. So in some ways, this story felt like my story—so the solutions and hopes expressed in this felt like mine to claim too.

One of my favorite quotes was:

“He is the God who finishes what he begins. He is the God who brings it to completion. … He doesn’t place a calling on your life and fail to bring it to pass.” —Grandma Lucy

In all, I came away from What Dreams May Come feeling immensely encouraged, eager to find the next book in the series, and grateful to have had the chance to read this. If you’ve ever faced loss or want a sweet romance with a bit of the deeper struggles of life thrown in, I think this might be a good choice for you!

Note: I received this book for free from the author, and chose to share my opinions of the book.

Buy your copy here.

About the author:

Alana is a pastor’s wife, homeschooling mom, self-diagnosed chicken lady, and Christian suspense author. Her novels have won awards from Women of Faith, Book Club Network, Grace Awards, Readers’ Favorite, and more. Alana’s passion for social justice, human rights, and religious freedom shines through her writing, and her books are known for raising tough questions without preaching. She and her family live in rural Alaska where the northern lights in the winter and midnight sun in the summer make hauling water, surviving the annual mosquito apocalypse, and cleaning goat stalls in negative forty degrees worth every second. You can find her on her website at AlanaTerry.com.

Guest post by Alana Terry:

The cat’s out of the bag! Back in 2016, I wrote What Dreams May Come, a novel that was based on the way my husband and I fell in love … fourteen months before we ever met! It wasn’t until just before Christmas that I told Scott the romance novel I’d been writing was actually our true-to-life love story, and he was even more surprised than I hoped he’d be! Watch the video to see his reaction.

Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, Alana is giving away a $50 CBD gift card!

Click here to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!

Let’s discuss: What do you enjoy reading on long trips? Or do you do something else then? What’s one book that has encouraged you in an area you had recently struggled in?

New Home, New Memories

February 10, 2018 by Esther Filbrun · 2 Comments

10 Feb

Well, moving week is behind us now. And I’m thankful.

At the same time, it was hard to say goodbye to our old place. I have some wonderful memories of being there, and even more great memories of living in that area. Over the last eight years, we haven’t moved any further than about 10 minutes’ distance from any one place, even though we lived in four different houses in that time.

This time, it’s four hours away. And I miss our friends from over there.

Still, I can’t help but be thankful. We aren’t renting any more. Yes, we’ve got a mortgage, but this is our house. We were able to choose where we could go. And I love this place already, even though we’ve only lived in it for a week! We have wonderful friends over here, and I’m looking forward to getting to know them (and others in the area) even better over the next few years.

During this move, I’ve realized I’m also very thankful for my memories. While it was hard to say goodbye to an area that was very much home for eight years, I’m thankful that I can remember all the good things that happened there. Like I wrote the day before we moved,

“There will always be a part of me left behind here. Life was lived to its fullest many days. There were heartaches and joys in the three years we’ve lived in this house—one dear sibling was added to the family, and another was taken away. I’m thankful for the time we’ve spent here, and the memories, and in some ways, I’ll miss it.”

Now, we’re working on developing new memories…growing deeper as a family, getting to know each other better. We’re all thrilled that my oldest brother can live with us again, since his work is only six minutes’ drive away. We love being able to hang out again.

God is good.

These guys? They’re experts at this unloading thing by now!

We’re still settling in, for sure. I haven’t finished unpacking yet, because I don’t have a place to hang my dresses yet. I’m thankful for room in Mom’s closet, and for the fact that an old solid-wood wardrobe was left here, which I’m currently refinishing (that post will be coming soon!). The house is mostly tidy now, and Mom got all our books sorted and up on shelves again which is wonderful! I love seeing all our books together in one place. Makes me want to get reading again. 🙂

There’s this huge old ivy bush at the front of our place, and right now my youngest siblings are having heaps of fun climbing to the top and bouncing down the sides. I love watching them play together and enjoy each other’s company! God is good! I’m so thankful for all He’s done!

Well, I’d better get out and do some more sanding on the wardrobe. I glued a few cracks this morning (one that I inadvertently crunched earlier after I glued and sanded it a couple days ago—oops!). Just a bit more to do there, I think, and then I can apply the stain/varnish stuff. Can’t wait to see what it looks like in the end!

What are you working on right now? What’s one memory that you have that you’re thankful for?

Writing Inspiration Resources — Where I’m Finding Motivation Right Now

January 31, 2018 by Esther Filbrun · Leave a Comment

31 Jan

We’re currently in the thick of moving preparations at the moment. It’s Wednesday; we’re moving Saturday, and there are still some cleaning jobs, final yard clean-up, and last-minute packing to do yet! But we’re getting there.

My writing time lately has been struggling quite a bit. We’ve been spending a lot more time with other people (mostly goodbye meals), and the stress of having things in limbo especially this last week has really made it difficult to focus. I never realized before what part a tidy, “normal” environment plays into my creativity levels! It’s a fascinating thing to think about.

Anyway, I have wanted to continue doing at least a little writing, just to keep the practice in, so I’ve been pushing myself to do 100 words each day in my story. Keeping going in the midst of change is hard, but at the same time it’s also refreshing to have one constant I can count on in my life.

I’ve also been working on “fueling up” as much as possible, and I thought it would be fun to share a few places I’m finding inspiration these days with you!

Read updates from other writers. I frequently stop by Lydia Howe’s and Kate Willis’ blogs, because they often talk about writing. Seeing other writers struggle with their stories, fight through, and make progress, has always inspired me, so I’m gleaning as much inspiration from them as possible.
Shawn Smucker’s writing updates. Technically, this should fit under the previous point, but I’ve appreciated the thoughts he’s had to share so much recently that it deserves its own place in the list. 🙂 His goal is to write 1000 words every weekday, and each day before he begins writing he does a short journal entry or pep talk for the day. So far, I’ve found it helpful and encouraging. And it makes me itch to start writing more myself, so YAY!
2018 Author Olympics. A.M.Heath has apparently come up with this–it’s a self-paced olympics for authors, that runs alongside the winter olympics. I’ve never participated, but I’m hoping I can this year! From the description: “Each author sets their own daily goals in the hopes of earning a virtual medal by the end of the day.”
Three Day Word Wars. Again, something I haven’t participated in yet (schedules don’t always mesh very well!), but this is a community of writers who write as much as they possibly can over a three-day period, send in their final wordcounts, and whoever has the most at the end wins a prize. Pretty fun. I’m hoping I can join in next time, but we’ll see! The next one is running from February 22-24.
Read good books. I’m just over half-way through an apologetic, Cold Case Christianity (I mentioned that in an earlier post sometime). I’m also part-way through a novella that’s taken me over a year to read. As soon as I’ve finished that, I’m planning to read several books from authors I know I love—I always find lots of good inspiration there! Good writing, both non-fiction and fiction, often inspires me to work on writing myself.
Listen to piano music. I’ve loved some of Thad Fiscella’s songs for a long time, and often find his music inspiring.
Keep writing. As much as I might struggle to have this on the list, it really is helpful. My goal is to do at least 100 words per day. Often, I average just above that, but at least I keep moving a little!

What are you doing to keep yourself inspired and moving in your work right now? Do you struggle to focus when your surroundings are changing?

‘Tis so Sweet Book Review (Blog Tour & Giveaway)

January 30, 2018 by Esther Filbrun · Leave a Comment

30 Jan

I knew it was possibly a little foolish to sign up for yet another blog tour so close to our moving date, but I really couldn’t resist last week. I loved Faith Blum’s last release, All the Way the Savior Leads, and ‘Tis so Sweet was a novella, I figured it would probably be safe.

So one hot afternoon after the author sent it to me, while Dad drove our family out to the ocean to cool off, I read. Then, my little sister and I played in the surf and got ourselves thoroughly soaked, having the time of our lives. When we were done cooling off (and trust me, even the cold south Pacific feels good on hot days!), and everyone else had had a good swim, we headed home again—and Dad took the longer, scenic route to get back. Which gave me just enough time to finish this book.

I loved it. A whole book (hey, a novella counts, right?) plus a nice hour at the beach? Just perfect.

Some of the links below may be affiliate links. Your purchase through these links helps support this blog and my reading habits, at no extra cost to you. Thanks!

About the book:

Trusting God is hard.

Eleanor Miller has never lacked for anything, but she wanted to become a schoolteacher anyway to instill the love of learning into other children. Unlike what happened with her brother, Grover.

Grover hated school and authority. He rebelled any change he could. When he almost killed a man, their family was torn apart and he was disowned.

Eleanor understands her father’s decision, but she worries she will never see Grover again. Will she find out how sweet it is to trust Jesus in everything no matter what happens or will she stop trusting Him completely?

Available now on your favorite eBook platform.

My thoughts:

The historical setting of this book was probably the first thing that drew me in. Although the language used felt almost too modern, I loved the Laura Ingalls feeling to the story, what with old-time school teachers and the like. After that, the story itself grabbed me. I instantly felt sorry for Eleanor and Mr. Miller, when they’re trying to deal with Grover. And the poor boy, not directing his life correctly…I probably felt most sorry for him.

The story progressed fairly fast, and there were quite a few time gaps, but the characters grew through that time, which was good to see. The overall theme—that of learning to trust the Lord whatever happens—is an important one, and I appreciated how that was brought out as well.

I did struggle with one part, where someone was hung…the emotions there, while fairly realistic, did feel “off” somehow. I don’t really know how to describe it. But since I’ve gone through something similar with my brother, my sense of “off” there could simply be due to the fact that it’s hard for me to read about anything related to that kind of a death. It just struck me as not being quite accurate. However, even in that, the theme came through pretty well, and I appreciated the way it was applied.

In all, this short book was a lovely companion to the series (or at least, the amount of them I’ve read!). It follows the same general theme of making a song the driving point of the book, and the song appears in different pertinent situations to help illustrate the main theme. No matter what happens in life, we still need to trust Jesus. And as we all know, that’s not very easy—but it’s so worth it! I think this story brought that fact out beautifully.

I received this book for free from the author, and chose to share my opinions about it.

Buy your own copy here!

About the author:

Faith Blum is a 20-something author of multiple books in various genres. She loves to write, read, play piano, knit, crochet, sew, watch movies, and spend time with her husband. She lives in Wisconsin in a small town with her husband and cat where she can write to her heart’s content during the day. Faith’s goal in her writing is to encourage Christians in their walk with Christ.

Giveaway!

Faith is offering three prizes:

Grand prize: $10 Amazon Gift Card
1^st Prize: eBook of ‘Tis So Sweet
2^nd Prize: Prize: eBook of ‘Tis So Sweet

Enter here!

Preorder opportunity:

‘Tis So Sweet is a companion novella to Faith’s next novel, He Hideth My Soul. Faith is excited to announce that He Hideth My Soul will be published on February 26th! And it’s now available for preorder for just $0.99. Reserve your copy today!

Other tour stops:

January 26
Bookish Orchestrations – Introductory Post
Inksword – Author Interview
Wildflower Acres – Book Spotlight

January 27
God’s Peculiar Treasure Rae – Book Spotlight
Writings, Ramblings, and Reflections – Special post from the author

January 29
Rachel Rossano’s Words – Book Spotlight
Purposeful Learning – Book Review

January 30
Janice’s Book Reviews – Book Review

January 31
Bookish Orchestrations – Giveaway Winner

What song has challenged you lately in an area you need to grow in? What song has encouraged you lately?