A Few of My Favorite Things Tag

"Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes, snowflakes that cling to my nose and eyelashes, silver white winters that melt into spring - these are a few of my favorite things!"

For my 16th birthday, one of my out-of-state friends took to pinterest and found a picture of each of Maria's favorite things and emailed it to me as a fun little "extra" birthday greeting, and it was such a pretty email, haha! So I think of that every time I hear this song now :). This little tag looks like so much fun!

Tag rules:
♥ Thank and link back to the persons blog who tagged you! That would be Alyssa from Here is Love! Thanks girl!
♥ Thank and link back to the persons blog who started the tag! Thank you, Beth in Boots! I love your tags!
♥ Write about seven of your favorite things in your post!  Add at least one picture of everything!
♥ Tag seven  people at least! (If you don't know seven blogs to tag just tag as many as you can.)
♥ Put the seven rules in your blog post!
♥ Include the picture above for the beginning of your post! 
♥ Have fun!!! 

"These are a few of my favorite things!"...

-Soft fabrics. And the color blue, yes. That has been proven ;). 

-Plants. I mean, plants just make me happy, especially if they need taken care of, haha :).

-Bible study. (And my journaling bible <3!)

-Pretty things. I know that that sounds kind of "obvious", but really. Can you imagine if all the world was "bare minimum"? I am so glad that we have a God who appreciates beauty and slipped it into His creation in so many ways!

-Books, words, writing, letters, one-on-one conversations with close friends... all those wonderful, wonderful things!

-Making memories of all kinds with my family <3! (These pictures are from the solar eclipse last year, which was also amazing :)!)

-The little things in life that make each moment richer <3. The little things that end up not being so little. It seems the simple things in life are always the best!

I am going to tag...
-Maddy
-Bethi
-Daminika
-Danielle
-Jessica
-Ashley
-Molly
-And feel free to snag this tag yourself if you like :)!

Rejoicing in Hope,
Bri <3

Of Dragons and Novels

Let me start off by wishing Tori a very happy 17th birthday <3!!!

Since this is Tori's birthday, and Tori both loves Lord of the Rings, and is the main reason that I came to love Lord of the Rings (it's not that I didn't love the books... it's just that 56 page chapters are really hard to find time for when you refuse to read less than a chapter in a sitting), and because Tori is having us re-watch some of the movies with her because she's re-reading the books, and because we celebrated her birthday today with a dragon theme, and because there was a neat blog party that happened, thrown by The Edge of the Precipice, that I totally knew was coming and totally forgot about while it happened... I decided that this would be an appropriate post to share today, despite it's being too late to be a part of the blog party (if I read my own sister's blog regularly, I wouldn't have missed it... but one fun fact about Tori: she changes blog/addresses frequently, and it means that I AM NEVER SUBSCRIBED TO HER BLOGS, and it's a problem, hahaha). So, without further ado, some of my thoughts on Middle Earth...

1.  What's your favorite Middle-earth story/book? Confession... I have only read one book of the smaller stories. So, I'm not exactly an authority here. Next time I read the series, I want to start with the Silmarillion and go through completely in order, but it is safe to say that I don't see that happening until after Christmas. But thanks to Tori, I have quite a good working knowledge of the other works, because she used to explain to me frequently at night the story line of each new book she read (I managed to stay awake about 50% of the time). But I believe my favorite book will always be "The Return of the King". Faramir, Aragorn, and Samwise all get their (mostly) happy endings, and it's got the death of Theoden, which I do not appreciate at all, because I wanted him to have a happy ending too, but also I do, because it's one of the few book scenes that has ever made me actually cry tears. So most of my favorite characters are taken care of, anyway... Second would be "The Hobbit". Let's face it, the style is wonderfully humorous but careful not to be a real comedy given it's perilous setting.

2.  Do you have a favorite subplot? When the people of Rohan get brought into the story, I feel like everything gets even better. It doesn't hurt that they are known for their horses, the Rohan music is my favorite theme in the movies, and that I love how kind Theoden is to the hobbits in the books. I mean, I love Aragorn's story, and I love the way Sam does everything he does out of loyalty for others, but I often think of Rohan/Rohan people when I think of the parts of the story I like best. But this seems like a main theme to me, so I am not sure it counts as a subplot. I think the smaller subplot that I love the best is Boromir + Faramir, trying to serve their people and please their Father, and both having huge struggles through that... Faramir staying true, no matter what is thrown at him, and Boromir's repentance after he succumbs to his Father's path/the ring.

3.  What's your favorite theme in Tolkien's books?  (Can be in one specific story, or overall.) I love that throughout the darkest time Middle Earth has ever faced, they face the future with hope. They fight not for power, but for right; and it's often the small things that bring the biggest change. They refuse to give in to despair, but do just what has been give to them to do, so that other's may know joy.

4.  Do you have a favorite weapon from Middle-earth? I'm partial to the swords, just because they have backstories, and I am all for your possessions having sentimental value. Haha... yeah, I'm not a weapons-loving person at all.It has to have some other purpose as well, haha.
If it had said tool instead of weapon, the answer would have been Sam's rope and herbs ;).

5.  Would you like to be a hobbit? Let us think about this: Hobbits love food, are very social, but love home, but also love to do something new just often enough for you to wonder when it will happen next, love to garden, are short... don't ask if I'd like to be one. Just give me a Hobbit hole, because I already am one ;). 

6.  Do you have a favorite romance/couple? Aragorn and Arwen's romance is my favorite. They are so patient and so willing to lay aside their own happiness for those who need them. It's kind of a back story we don't know enough of in the actual book, but we learn more in the appendix (Mama actually went years thinking that that was all elaborated in the movie, haha), and I think it's sweet. But I kind of like elements from them all, haha :). Someone pointed out that one of the biggest theme's in Tolkien's romances is that they all go through a period of waiting before their romance is realized, and that was based off of his own relationship with his wife, and I thought that was a really neat take from that!

7.  What's your favorite Middle-earth creature?  (Can be "real" or "imaginary.") ??? I mean, by creature, do we mean... everything but the men? I don't want to think that hard, haha. My favorite animal is Bill the Pony. He deserves all the apples Sam was able to give him.

8.  What character do you look the most like? Ah, yes. If you were to ask my sister and her best friend, I am the spitting image of a random elf in the scene where the dwarves first arrive in Rivendale in AUJ, if I would just straighten my hair (the elf who first talks to them, and says Elrond isn't there just to turn around and see him coming). I don't find this very flattering, but... really, there isn't anyone better, because I don't look like anyone,  so, I guess you can laugh over that if you know who that is...

9.  Are there any books about Middle-earth or Professor Tolkien (but not written by him) you recommend? Ahem. I've never read any, haha. The closest I came to reading a book about Middle Earth that wasn't the books themselves was also written by Tolkien, but compiled by someone else, "The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien". Seriously, he reminds my sister and I of a gentleman from our VA choir, and he was really quite neat! 

10.  List up to ten of your favorite lines/quotations from the Middle-earth books and/or movies.
Sam's quote. Obviously. Who does not find that quote (you know the one) the best quote and the perfect theme explanation of the story? So I went with a few "lesser" ones, since it wasn't "top ten" quotes that were supposed to be listed ;). In no particular order, here are ten of my favorites that come to mind/I have previously saved. (But I am thinking of so many other parts that are too long to quote - most of them surrounding the people of Rohan. Or Sam.)

"Deserves it! I daresay he does. Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends."

"'I wish it need not have happened in my time,' said Frodo.
'So do I,' said Gandalf, 'and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.'"

"All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king."

"Bilbo knelt on one knee filled with sorrow. 'Farewell, King under the mountain!' he said. 'This is a bitter adventure, if it must end so; and not a mountain of gold can amend it. Yet I am glad that I have shared in your perils - that has been more than any Baggins deserves.'
'No!' said Thorin. 'There is more in you of good than you know, child of the kindly West. Some courage and some wisdom, blended in measure. If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world. But sad or merry, I must leave it now. Farewell!'
Then Bilbo turned away, and he went by himself, and sat alone wrapped in a blanket, and, whether you believe it or not, he wept until his eyes were red and his voice was hoarse. He was a kindly little soul."

"There are some things that it is better to begin than to refuse, even though the end may be dark."

"The world is indeed full of peril, and in it there are many dark places; but still there is much that is fair, and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps the greater."

 "Praise from the praise-worthy is beyond all rewards."

"Hold your ground, hold your ground. Sons of Gondor, of Rohan, my brothers. I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day. An hour of woes and shattered shields, when the age of men comes crashing down, but it is not this day. This day we fight! By all that you hold dear on this good Earth, I bid you stand, Men of the West!"

“I would rather share one lifetime with you than face all the ages of this world alone.”

"I tried to save the Shire, and it has been saved, but not for me. It must often be so, Sam, when things are in danger: some one has to give them up, lose them, so that others may keep them."

Summer ✽ Autumn

I somewhat feel like I now have a tag blog, I so often have one of these posts (with one more coming next month!)), but they are so much fun... haha :). So thank you to all those who think of me and my humble little blog when you are tagging people :)!

Today I am going to fill out two tags at once; one very opportunely looks back at summer, and the other is a little questionnaire for September, the beginning of fall, so it seemed the perfect way to combine the two posts and the blending of the seasons that many of us down here in the south are seeing at this time (because fall treats and flip flops are both the norm here right now, right?)

Speaking of which - Happy Autumn, y'all <3!

Blessings of Summer 2018 Tag

THE RULES

*Please thank the person who tagged you! -Thank you, Alyssa :)!!!
*Please include these rules on your blog!
*If it is past the summer, for example: Winter 2019, you can use this tag as “Blessings from Winter 2019 Tag!”
*Write 10+ blessings from God during that season in your post!  Include pictures!
*Tag 4 bloggers!
*If it’s a new season, bloggers can re-tag those who were already tagged a previous season!  (So if this tag circulates, instead of potentially dying off, we can keep it going by using it again each season.  Like, if a blog friend of yours doesn’t get around to doing it till mid-fall, they can re-tag you to do it again for fall 2018!)

BLESSING OF SUMMER 2018...

The hardest part about listing all my blessings is that I always think of all the little moments, and I feel like y'all are probably more interested in the big events... haha :). But, here we go with a few of my favorite things from the past months :)!

Abbi and Emmi enjoying a fun birthday outing!

1. Summer starts and ends with us celebrating family, with 6 birthdays from June to mid-September (Andrew and Tori will take care of our fall birthdays this week, and Bethi and the middle boys take care of spring birthdays - we currently have no winter birthdays in the immediate family!). Each and every member of the family is a gift, so it is wonderful to have a day set aside for each to remind them of how thankful we are for them!

First sibling pic with 10 <3!

2. The most important birthday of our year deserves a special mention all it's own! Isaac Charles Lee joined our family this summer, and has been delighting out family ever since <3. Baby Bear smiled on purpose at 2 days old, and he's been hitting milestones and proving that he's very alert ever since then. He is just the best little snuggle bug, and he's currently sleeping in my lap while I type this. He was the best blessing our family was given this summer <3.

Blueberry picking...

Rock climbing...

Riding ponies for the first time...

I love this picture of Noah!

Our zoo had so many babies this year! Here is the koala...

And if you look really, really, really hard, you might see the baby gorilla, haha :). 

3. Summer obviously isn't summer without enjoying some sunshine! (Although autumn leaves are even better ;).) We enjoyed the outdoors several times this summer with trips to the zoo and going blueberry picking, water fights and a couple picnics in the back yard! And Bethani, Andrew and I enjoyed even more as we tended our garden (which did somewhat better than last year's, but we shall not mention how disappointing it was) and went on walks :).

Father's day outing!

4. One outdoor outing we took was quite unusual. Andrew, Bethi, Daddy and I all went to a state park one night to see the synchronized fireflies! They had a very short trail marked off with lights for main viewing, but we took one of the side trails to get to the lake. The walk there was quite pleasant (for Bethi and I - Daddy and Andrew were attacked by bugs left and right), but coming back was not nearly as fun, as only Daddy could see more than three feet ahead of him, haha. But, it was worth it to see all the fireflies lining the tree tops, all flashing their lights at the same time :)! It was definitely a neat experience!

Peter hit several milestones this summer, including loosing his first 2 teeth, and beginning to read!

5. My summer was filled with several unexpected times of fellowship! Our church held an afternoon for the woman to come together and knit/crochet, which Bethi and I attended and greatly enjoyed! I also met up with a friend last minute when she ended up in town, and reconnected with a friend via blogger  - and I also got to meet Ashley, the sweet blogger from Precious Moments! She and her mom attended a wedding, and on their way by they stopped in at our church, that was so neat :)! Our church friends also blessed us greatly after the arrival of little Isaac, with cards and gifts and meals.

6. Small blessings are always my favorite... we can't forget bible time, coffee, snuggles and books with littles, plants, and all those wonderful things! 

Mama has always homeschooled year-round so that we can take breaks when it's important to us, instead of when other people are used to; it just works better. So several times over the summer, Noah came to do puzzles beside me while I worked on shop to-dos, so he wouldn't be a distraction during reading time :).  

7. With summer came several opportunities for me to volunteer at extra events held by the church that  I work with that has a special needs ministry. It was such a blessing to get to invest in the people that I have come to love a little more, especially since the respites, that I usually help with, are always on break through the summer months.

 Mama stenciled this onsie!

And this blanket <3. 

And these are a few of my favorite personal projects :).

8. No season of life is ever complete for me without a couple of things having been accomplished... crafting, and reading (and probably cleaning out my boxes and drawers, at least quickly). Our summer was filled with a very special reason to craft, preparing for Isaac's arrival! Hand lettering, fabric stamping, crocheting, knitting... there was plenty of everything to keep us plenty busy!

9. There were many books that I enjoyed reading... a couple of my favorites were "Girl Defined" and "Women of the Word", both of which I highly recommend to everybody! I also got some time in for some fun fiction books. Right before Summer ended, several of my siblings, my Mama and I all started going through a bible reading with many, many other ladies through an online ministry that a church runs. It has been so neat to go through it with so many other ladies who each notice different things that the text brings to light. And it has been so much fun to all be at the same place and better able to discuss what we are reading, learning, and noticing for the first time!

Fourth of July.

10. Our summer came to a close with the events of hurricane Florence. Thankfully, but the time it hit land, it had already started to lose it's force, and we and all our friends in it's path were kept safe! Our family personally didn't even lose power, we just had a very rainy, cozy Sunday, which was the perfect day for me to get some cleaning and work done to be ready and caught up a bit for autumn. Despite how blessed we were, though, there were several deaths and damage caused by the storm, and I know that many of those affected would be grateful for continued prayers.

And I realize, looking back at my summer, that I probably want to think about taking more pictures than I do. Actually, it's something I have been working on recently. But. 1. I still don't think about it as much as I would like, because I get too busy/think I have plenty of time later, and 2. My phone camera is really not that great, and so it's not a very great encouragement to remember more when I do remember, haha...

Now it's your turn! Any of you can take this tag and fill it out :)! What blessings do you think of when you look back at your summer?

But, I'll also tag several of you especially :)...

-Kainoa from Kainoa's Corner.
-Ashley from Precious Moments.
-Maddy from Little Bit of Sunshine.
-Hosanna from Having a Heart Like His.

Go ahead and do whatever season you get around to ;). Haha!

Hello September Blog Tag

(Or, you know, the "September means fall and fall lasts longer than the beginning of September, so this tag is still relevant tag" ;)...)

THE RULES

*Thank the person who tagged you. Thank you, Maddy!

*Answer the questions.

*Nominate at least three other bloggers. 

*Write out at least ten new questions or just copy these. 

*Include the guidelines in your post, use the tag picture, and try to avoid nominating bloggers who have already been nominated. 

THE QUESTIONS

Fall or autumn?

Autumn. Always Autumn. I may say fall, because that's just kind of what we call it here in the USA, but I will always think of it as autumn. I promise there is a difference ;).

Favorite fall activity?

Baking spicy sweets and going for a walk when it actually feels/looks like fall :)!

Sweaters or hoodies?

Sweaters. I love sweaters! Although I admit, they are kind of hot down here until about January... haha!

How would you describe the perfect fall day?
The perfect fall day would include baking + doing something crafty, a walk outside with a crisp wind blowing and the colored leaves rustling, followed by a warm cup of coffee + a fall treat enjoyed while reading/watching a fallish book/movie (not a book or movie about fall, because there seem to be few, but a book or movie that has the comrade-ish, beautiful, thoughtful feeling of fall). And then a family supper enjoyed leisurely, and a few moments before bed spent journaling about + thanking God for some of my many blessings :)!

Windy or rainy days?
Windy. That way I can get outside and enjoy it!

Apple pie or pumpkin pie?
Mmmmmm, my mama's pumpkin pie with homemade whipped cream! We actually just had some for Andrew's birthday, delicious!

Do you like apple cider donuts?
I have had them once - we went apple picking with my grandparents, and they "treated" everyone. I was skeptical at first about fruity donuts, but now that I have had one, I kind of want them again every once in a while.

 
Favorite fall time drink?

Warm coffee. What other answer did you think I could give ;)?

If you could go to one state in the USA, just for the fall scenery, where would you go?
Just for the fall scenery? Let's just say Virginia, but the truth is I would do more than look at scenery while I was there, haha (I like to multi-task/do the most productive things when given a choice - if I were taking a trip, it just makes sense to say hello to friends at the same time). BUT, it DOES have such gorgeous colors when fall comes <3. Here in SC, half the trees are pines, and they aren't that fallish, but Virginia has next to none, and they have pretty falls!

What color leaf do you like best?
Hm. That's a tough question. I think orange, but I also love red. Yellow and brown give nice contrast, but I wouldn't want those to be the only colors :).

I tag...

-Alyssa from Here is Love.

-Molly from A Ramble Through the Woods.

-Bethi from Gratefully His.

Here are my questions for you girls! (For what is, I guess, now the Hello Fall tag ;)...)

-What book do you think has the qualities of fall in it? 

-What is the first thing you want to do when autumn gets here?

-What is your favorite fall treat?

-Favorite thing pumpkin?

-What is one thing that most people think is a fall activity that you may or may not indulge in in secret year round?

-Do you like another season better than autumn?

-Is the scenery pretty around you during autumn, or do you have to pretend fall has come?

-What are 3 things you are grateful for?

-Do you enjoy apple picking?

-What is your favorite bible verse about gratefulness?

And now I'm going to wrap up this post... but I will be back very, very soon... because October and Write31 are just around the corner!

Rejoicing in Hope,
Bri

Sunshine Blogger Award

I was nominated for the Sunshine Blogger Award by Maddy from Little Bit of Sunshine :)! 

I love this award/tag. (Also, those sunflowers.) I mean, even just it's name sounds so cheerful and kind, and I see it as an encouragement that, "your blog brightens my life when I read it, thank you"; so it's special fun that I have received it! What an honor, thank you so much, Maddy!

When y'all read this, I will be taking a little internet break, so I thought this would be the perfect none time-specific post to schedule for that time ;). I'll moderate and reply to all the comments when I come back on, don't worry! 

Now, to fill out the tag that came with this award :D!

Rules:

• Thank the blogger who nominated you and link their blog. (Thank you again, Maddy!) 
• Answer the questions the blogger who nominated you provided.
• Nominate new bloggers and make up 11 questions for them to answer.
• List the rules and have the Sunshine Blogger logo present in your post.

1. Do you play a musical instrument? 

I have mentioned this a few times on my blog, and at least one of you has rolled your eyes at me for the answer. *cough, cough* BUT, the answer is sadly, not really. But I do on occasion play the piano with lead sheets. I would truly love to play an instrument, but what I would really love to learn is violin, and we don't really have one... also, I don't really need another hobby/learning experience right now. What I need is better time management for the ones I have, haha...

2. Fiction or nonfiction books?
Hm. This is tough. See, I LOVE true stories + thought provoking writing, and I want to say nonfiction. But the truth is, I love vibrant and beautiful stories and writing, and I feel like it's easier to find a personality in fiction books, haha. There are a few books that I love the writing/story of that are nonfiction... a couple that come to mind are "The Family Nobody Wanted", and "The Princess Adelina". But when I want to relax with a book, I will frequently reach for fiction. (I think another reason for this isn't always the writing styles; I think another part of that is that when I read fiction, I just read, while when I read theology, biographies, or other nonfiction, I usually feel compelled to take notes/store things away to look into later, and it's more study time than relaxing time. Also, I have several bible study books that I love the personality and writing style that comes through, but I don't really consider that "just reading" either, because I will dissect those things so much and stop to take so many notes, lol!)

3. Chocolate or vanilla?

Chocolate or vanilla what? In some things we must be very specific. 

Vanilla ice cream.

Chocolate everything else ;).

4. Cars or trucks?

Cars. I can almost assure you I will never own a truck. Nothing against them, I just am not a truck person at all, haha. 

5. What's your middle name?

Kirstin Lavon. Each of us children all have two middle names :). Lavon is a family name that has been passed down several generations :)!

6. Top three favorite blogs?
Ughhhhhh. This is really, really hard, because I like more than three blogs and don't like to play favorites :P.

-Having a Heart like His.

-The Barefoot Gal.

-The Book Wyrm (except she never posts anymore, hmph.), The Introverted Extrovert, Here is Love... can I get by with cheating anymore?

7. Why did you start your blog?

Because my mom started one. Haha! Seriously. I remember that November afternoon (which got dark very early that day) when Mama and I sat down together and set "Home Life" up while we passed new butterball baby Andrew back and forth between us. I was 9, and it was almost 12 years ago. My first post was hilariously jumbled, and I was so proud the first time my Mama linked to my blog on her blog. I will say I have come a long way, but I am also glad I started when I did, because it's just fun to look back on :).
As to why I started *this* blog... suffice it to say that a stalker situation and a desire for a new title were enough to make me move, haha. So Forget Not His Benefits is "only" 5 years old. But I do pray that the Lord can use my little ramblings to bless others, encourage them, and maybe put a smile on their face :).

8. Dogs or cats?

Do I still have a reader here that is confused about this one? Cats, always and forever. Call them (or me) a snob all you want, I won't believe it and I love them. But I wouldn't mind a golden retriever someday, either. (I'm really just an animal person in general, if I'm honest.)

9. Indoors or outdoors? 

This also requires some "if/then"s. I would never want to LIVE outside. But I require sunshine to function (it can be coming through a window if need be), fresh air to stay motivated, and plants to admire. I'm definitely an outdoors sort of person, despite not spending much time outdoors. (South Carolina heat is brutal, but fall is not too far away!)

10. Favorite summer activity?

This is hard, because things like going to the zoo and going for walks and eating ice cream, and normal people's "summer activities", we literally do all year around (again, South Carolina, haha). So, I guess blueberry picking? That is, by necessity, a time-specific thing ;). 

11. Favorite food?

Brownie sundaes. 

Yes, I know, that's not real food. Just pretend. You didn't ask for a certain group on the food pyramid ;). Caramel, almonds, brownies, ice cream.... mmmmm. You can't go wrong.

Now I would like to tag...

1. Tori (so you'll have a post idea, since having none is your excuse for not writing.)

2. Alyssa

3. Abbie

4. Hosanna

5. Ashley

6. Molly

7. Bethi (how old are you again?)

8. Elanor

9. Jessica

10. Kelly-Anne

11. And you, if you'd like to snag it!

Here are the questions I have for y'all!

1. What is your earliest memory of your favorite hobby?

2. What is your earliest memory of someone sharing the gospel with you?

3. What 5 songs would be included in your "life sound track"?

4. What do you put on your brownie sundaes?

5. What pet would you most like to have?

6. What is something the Lord has laid on your heart to do?

7. Are you a night owl of a morning bird? What is your favorite thing to do during your "peak time"?

8. What is one thought you have always wanted to share with your readers, but you've never really found a way to make a blog post out of it?

9. Why do you think that people write?

10. What is one book you have read this year that you would recommend to us?

11. What do you think of when you hear the word sunshine?

And for the rest of you, let me know in the comments; do you like fiction or nonfiction books better? What are you most looking forward to about fall? (Because I will pretend it is here on September 22nd, even though it won't feel like it, haha ;)...)

Rejoicing in Hope,

Bri <3

Baby Name Challenge Tag

It looks like there is a new tag going around! (I feel like a writer created this one as she was researching, but didn't name it the "Writer's Name Challenge" so that there would be more people filling it out ;).) As I was reading through the first one I saw, I was thinking, this looks hard (because, the wonderful thing about Bri is that she's completely indecisive. I'm probably going to make my future husband write the names we chose on the birth certificate, too, that way if the child hates it, *I'm* not the one who committed. I am so mean. And indecisive.). I got tagged twice, and I could have turned it down once, but not twice, that's just too rude, haha, so I am attempting to pretend I am decisive (you can let me know how good I am at that in a few minutes, hahaha). And also, with a new little brother in the house, we have been talking about names a lot over here, and so I thought it would be a fun time to fill it out if I am going to ;).

I was tagged by both Maddy from Little Bit of Sunshine and Dominika from Walking in the Sonshine (yep, two rays of sunshine <3!), and no matter how hard this one is for me, I am honored that you both thought of me girls, truly!

Actually, I kind of feel like the three of us have an unspoken understanding that we're "safe" bloggers to tag because we know that the other two are "okay" with tags, haha, and that's kind of a friendly thing to have in the blogeshere, right?!

Sooooooo, here it goes!

R U L E S:

Answer the questions
Tag three friends


1.What are your favorite boy and girl name from the top 100 of the year?

Boy: Ethan (#17). Actually, several on this list are cute and I might mention them later, but I'll just go with that one, because I remember it being the first boy's name I really liked (although, for reasons since then, I am not sure I will ever use it, which is sad).
Girl: I'll go with Autumn (#75). There are too many cute ones to choose from, but I have always loved Autumn as a name. Autumn is such a pretty word anyway! But the use of it would be limited, because you would have to have a girl baby in the six weeks of true fall to use it. Like the name Noelle. I feel like you can only use that name if your daughter is born December 1-25.


2.What are your least favorite boy and girl name from the top 100 of the year?

Boy: Sebastian (#22). Not because the name itself is terrible, but I have to ask, has any baby ever LOOKED like a Sebastian? Maybe if you could find a cute nickname until he "grew into it"... but nicknames are my thing and I am having a hard time finding one, so I have my doubts that this could be a baby name ;).
Girl: Either Kennedy (#58) or Quinn (#76). I have nothing against the names per say, but they don't sound as feminine as I would lean for, and so I wouldn't pick them.


3. If you have twins, what would you name them?

Well... I could go with bible names that are associated with each other.
Boy + Boy: David + Jonathan (actually, I would totally do that one).
Boy + Girl: Moses + Miriam.
Girl + Girl: Mary + Martha.


4. If you could change your name to anything, what would you change it to?

I like my name and the reasoning behind it, so I wouldn't want to change it. But I did ask to be called Ella when I was little, because I felt like Ella made a sensible nickname for Ambrielle, and I loved the book "All-of-a-Kind Family". Tori called me Ella for a day, and then that was it, because my Dad heard and asked if I didn't like the nickname Bri any more and I thought I hurt his feelings, which was not my intent... haha.


5. If you had four children, boys or girls, all with the same letter, what would their names be?

I am never going with the same letter theme, haha. Buuuuuuut...
1. Ida
2. Isaiah
3. Isabelle
4. Iris
Sure. I just picked 3 names to go with Ida, hahaha ;). Iris and Isabelle are beautiful, but probably wouldn't fit with other names I would use, so this is purely for fun ;). .


6. What is your favorite animal inspired name?

Boy: Wolf.
Girl: Wren.
But I would never use animal names, haha. They are fun in books, but I feel like they are dangerous in real life (I feel like these children would be the most likely to with they had gotten boring normal names).

7. What is your favorite colored inspired name?

Boy: Ash.
Girl: Hazel.


8.  What are your top three favorite boy names?*

1. Caleb.
2. William (not nicknamed Bill. Because why?).
3. Jeremiah.


9. What are your top three favorite girl names?*

1. Adelina.
2. Hosanna.
3. Elizabeth.
*Top favorites meaning "first 3 favorites that come to mind", obviously, right ;)?


10. What is your favorite month inspired name?

Boy: August
Girl: May


11. Choose a name from a movie.

I am drawing a complete blank on movies that even hold normal (read: not obviously movie-inspired) but cute names... hahahaha.
Boy: Eh, Albert from "The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry". I don't particularly love this name, but I do love this character because he's hilarious (and I love the fact that he wasn't even supposed to be a big part of the movie), so, sure... haha.
Girl: Arwen is not normal, but it is beautiful. I will not bother to spend the time explaining where it came from, as it's so obviously movie-inspired I expect you to know ;).


12. Choose a name that is already in your family.

Boy: Probably Daniel. Tori has claimed Robert, so that's out ;).
Girl: LaVon. It's a traditional requirement I refuse to break. Tradition!


13. Choose a name from a book.

Boy: Theo, "The Bishop's Shadow". Unfortunately I am not as partial to the name Theodore, so I don't know how that would work out, haha.
Girl: Leslie, "Anne's House of Dreams". I would never wish Leslie's life on anyone, but I think the name is beautiful!

And I shall tag a few writing bloggers I know, because they can chalk filling this tag up to doing research for future stories, right ;)?!
-Micaiah from Notebooks and Novels. (She just got one of her stories published, how neat is that?!)
-Jane from Jane Maree. (So much enthusiasm on this blog!)
-Danielle from Life is Like a Book. (I literally just found her blog through a comment she left me, so hi, Danielle!)

Had you heard of this tag yet? What was your favorite name from my answers? What are some names you would have chosen to use instead?

Rejoicing in Hope,
Bri

P.S... who wants to see another picture of Isaac, because he's adorable <3?