New Year's Tag (2021)

Hi friends!

It's been a big year. And that's almost an understatement. Each year, since 2017, I have written out the New Years Tag that has made its way around the blogosphere for a long time, for my own personal enjoyment and interest. (It's so fascinating to look back from 5 years ago and compare your answers!)

taken by my little sister, at our last family holiday

Last year, I wrote it out, but almost didn't publish it, because my list felt so "unimpressive" and I was too sad about it. I'm sorry, now, to think of where I was at this time a year ago. And I'm sorry to know how much that girl would go through, and how oblivious she was to the hardships ahead, and how hopeful she was that it would be a perfectly happy year. 

But even though it wasn't easy, 2021 taught me to find beauty in the brokenness, and that is something I will be carrying with me into tomorrow and beyond. So, in the hopes that it may encourage anyone out there who has had a hard year also, and to give you a peep behind the curtains of my life, I will share with you the answers for this year, 2021. (For privacy reasons, I have edited out some names etc.) I have used photos that I took this year, to make it a bit more personal, but also be prepared for a complete photo dump of play photos. ;)

2021 Recap in Questions

What did you do in 2021 that you've never done before?

The obvious answer is be part of community theatre! That was a huge first, as was auditioning, and experiencing a two-show day. I also had my first gig (with my siblings!), sang in front of a paying audience, got a job "promotion", and took myself on a date and went to a friend's wedding by myself. (Hush, this was a big deal for me, guys.) Oh, and I went wake-boarding/tow-surfing!

from our wakeboarding trip

Did you keep your New Years Resolution and will you make a new one?

My resolution for 2021 was very vague, along the lines of "be more intentional with my time; set boundaries and make time for rest", so to some extent, yes? I certainly tried, especially the latter two, but it wasn't some shock transformation. Just baby steps.

My resolution for 2022 is to believe it to be and make it a good year, no matter what it looks like; to think of it as good even if it's not what I dreamed or planned. (If I had to pick a word for the year, it would be resilience.) Essentially, I want to take my joy and hope back that was stolen from me, and strive to be grateful and adaptive, fully trusting God's plan with my life.

I get to wear a cool headset at my job

Did anyone close to you give birth?

Depends on the definition of close, but my cousin had a baby, a close family friend, and two of my work colleagues had babies. And I found out my brother and sister-in-law are going to have a baby and I will be an aunty!!!!

Did anyone close to you die?

Yes, and though it was not my first taste of grief, it rocked me to the core. My dear friend, you will be sorely missed. I hope you know that. I'm sorry you were in so much pain. I'm so glad you are now at peace, with Jesus.

sometimes you have to pull over to take a photo of the sunset

What countries/states did you visit?

Thanks to C*vid, we were not able to venture outside of Queensland, although thankfully it is by no means a small state.

What would you like in 2022 that you lacked in 2021?

Less heartache and division. Peace of mind, freedom from restrictions and discriminations around a certain injection. A role in a musical. The ability to travel.

we each got little trophies with our name
and the role that we played

What date will remain etched upon your memory?

16.02.21 - the day I learned of my friend's suicide, and the day my dream of theatre came true and I got the lead role of Anne. 

11.06.21 - Opening night of Anne of Green Gables!

Our play in action! Was so happy I never fell on my face
on that darn staircase (came way too close)

Did you move house?

Hahaha. Haha. Ha. Ahem. Nope.

Which was the best month?

Perhaps January, because there was the least amount of pain. Otherwise June, when we got to perform our show and it was all just like a dream.

the stage is set

What was your biggest achievement?

Playing the lead role of Anne Shirley and not forgetting one of my 520 lines in any of the six performances! Also just not having a complete mental breakdown was an achievement, to be honest. (I came close at one point.)

What was your biggest failure?

Not being honest with people, and carrying my burdens alone. I made it a lot harder for myself than I could have. Also, selfishness. 

I recreated a photo shoot of my sister and 
her goat from several years ago

Did you experience any illness or injury?

Nothing more than a few colds, although I lost/nearly lost my voice several times. 

What was the best thing you bought?

All the tickets to see shows! I am so glad I did, especially as I am not allowed to for the forseeable future. Also, my "warm-me-up" singing app haha - definitely got my money's worth! And my "Be the Light" yellow hoodie that I bought online which turned up to be extremely bright, and also my favourite.

a mic check for our play, ft. my yellow hoodie

Whose behaviour merited celebration?

*insert sarcastic remarks about Certain Politicians* I guess I'd say Luke and Tammy, our directors forthe play, for all their hard work, thoughtfulness and kindness. They're top-rate folks.

some of my favourite people

Whose behaviour made you appalled and distressed?

Basically any politician ever, but specifically a particularly powerful one from our state.

a photo I took of my older sister

Where did most of your money go?

Car stuff, tires, etc. Also tickets for shows, dance classes, singing lessons and hydro classes.

What did you get really, really excited about?!

BEING IN A PLAY! Let alone playing the title role! And all the incredible people who came to see it (they made me so happy). And the fact that we were sold-out for our second last show. Also, my brother and sister-in-law having a baby!! :)

some of the cast at our after-party from the play
(can you feel the energy in the room?!)

What was the best concert you went to?

Why, the gig my siblings and I did, of course! ;D Hehe. But in regards to shows, Pirates of Penzance at IMTC, West Side Story at QPAC, White Sheep of the Family with LRPA, and the 24 hr musical (which turned out to be Gentlemen Prefer Blondes)! Just all the shows!! And obviously, Anne of Green Gables. ;)

What is a song/album that reminds you of 2021?

The Anne of Green Gables soundtrack and the hymns my sister played on piano for the actual play - specifically a beautiful rendition she did of "How Firm a Foundation". It was played during the closing scene and had this glorious crescendo as I walked off and the lights dimmed. *happy sigh*

deep in rehearsal thought. Peep the cute dog

Are you happier or sadder? (Compared to last year)

Sadder, but learning to find the beauty from the brokenness.

Are you thinner or fatter?

My goodness, how presumptuous of you to ask. :P Neither more, nor less.

Are you richer or poorer?

Richer, but I care even less about money that I ever did.

when we went to Outback Spectacular!

What do you wish you had done more of?

Taken more photos, especially ones of me with the people I love. (I have this terrible hesitation in taking any kind of selfie/groupie, and then regret not taking any photos.) 

I wish I'd had more open, honest conversations, and I wish I had prayed more.

What do you wish you'd done less of?

Social media + screen time, pretending everything was OK when it wasn't, and trying to MAKE things happen.

cute lil' instruments

What was your greatest musical discovery?

Josh Garrels, Carrie Underwood's album of hymns ("My Saviour"), Mamma Mia musical soundtracks... I listened to a lot of Michael Buble, Sleeping at Last and Ben Platt this past year... all the soothing voices...

my poor little boots; they served me well

How did you spend your Christmas?

Well, I was sick, so all our guests decided not to come over. We had our family of seven open presents at home, eat lots of good food, and play games together. Small, intimate, sweet.

How did you spend New Years?

Obviously, it's not yet New Years, but I'm planning on spending it at a friend's house, playing games and eating pizza with a whole bunch of other people. However, I'm still trying to shake a cold, so if it's not gone by then, I guess I'll be spending it on the couch watching a movie, and ringing in the new year with a half-hearted 'hooray!' to myself. ;)

SUCH an epic photo that a friend took.
Can you guess which one is me?

Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?

You know what's ridiculous? I was going to say "I hardly called anyone!" and then I remembered what I do for a day job. *face palm* I would have called hundreds of patients, and let me tell you, it is most fascinating (and often amusing) speaking to so many people from the general public over the phone, and getting snippets of their life. I've also heard the world's strangest voicebank messages.

What was the best book you read?

"Godspace" by Doug Pollock, "Cold Tangerines" by Shauna Niequist, and "4.50 from Paddington" by Agatha Christie, not counting some fabulous re-reads.

my happy place

Did you fall in love?

No... but affection did grow for someone, and a lot of prayers were said regarding that person. ;)

a part of rehearsals you don't know about ;)

What was your favourite TV show?

Didn't watch many, but can I just say we finished "White Collar" after spending 2-3 years trying to find nights when both my sisters AND I didn't have to go to bed early so we could watch an episode?! We did it! We finished it! And I was almost sad. :P Otherwise, "Cranford" (a mini-series?), "Lego Masters", "The Voice Australia" and "The Chosen" (though I have not watched much of the latter).

why would you watch a screen when you can watch this?!

What did you want and get?

The opportunity to be part of a theatre production (other than my own)! Real-life friends who like theatre! (To all my blogging friends who do too, I love you! 😘) A church that feels like it could be home. And to see lots of shows/musicals live!

our well-loved stage <3

What did you want and not get?

To travel. Also, to be in a musical. Flexibility. To see "In the Heights" in cinemas. A flawless mix and belt. (Hahaha, like that was gonna happen.)

our second wig fit. It was so itchy! :P

What was your favourite film? 

"Dune", "Dear Evan Hansen" (I BAWLED MY EYES OUT GUYS), "Hacksaw Ridge", "I Still Believe" and "Knives Out". 

What did you do for your birthday and how old were you?

I was sick (BOO) so for my 21st birthday I stayed home. I opened presents, played games with my family, watched the new "Rebecca" movie (my verdict? Read the book) and old videos of me as a baby/toddler. I postponed a picnic beside a dam (which sounds dreadful but imagine a really pretty lake) with friends and family, which will now hopefully take place in January.

why do I look like I'm checking my pulse? :P

Describe your personal fashion concept?

Comfortable, clean and cute. (Lame, I know. Well, it's a lame question. So there.)

What kept you sane?

Oh, but am I?? 

God, first and foremost. 

Journaling. 

Music. 

Prayer. 

The belief that my life is not about me.

backstage, between shows

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Ehh, not head over heels about anyone. But if I must... Timothee Chalamet is someone I could look at for a long time. :P Also Tom Holland. He's cute.

Which political issue stirred you the most?

The laws barring, shunning and discriminating against those who choose not to get injected, and legalizing euthanasia. There have been so many laws and bills passed that made me want to become a politician and fight tooth and nail.

waiting for rehearsals to start
(told you I liked that hoodie)

Who did you miss?

My friend who I lost. So much. Also my cousins who moved to Sydney last year after they were married, and have not been allowed to return. *hugs*

Who was the best person you met?

Goodness! Lots of theatre people, and work colleagues, and random people I met at dance or hydro classes etc. I genuinely think you can learn something from everyone though, and I value each person who crosses paths with me. 

rehearsing the school scene!

What was a valuable life lesson you learnt in 2021?

Yikes. How long do you want to sit here for? Well, to keep it short, let's say I learnt that every day, you make a lot of small decisions that build up over time; so be careful of what you let into your heart, even if it slowly creeps in. And if you want God to be first in your life, then LIVE like He is first in your life. I learnt you can never please everyone, so don't even try, and don't apologize for something that was never your fault or responsibility to begin with. And I also learnt (and am still learning), that mental health is just as important as your physical health. (All of you needs care and support. <3)

Quote a song lyrics that sums up your year?

"God knows what He's doing

Even when you've lost all focus

He's not done proving that you were made with purpose

He's got something up His sleeve

Beyond your wildest dreams

God knows what He's doing

In you."

(From "God Knows" by Cody Johns. Probably my most played song of the year.)

another new thing - I got highlights in my hair!

What were 5 personally significant events of 2021?

1. Losing my friend to depression. That rocked my world and made me re-think so much about my life.
2. Auditioning + getting the role of Anne Shirley in Anne of Green Gables! No one will ever know just how much that meant to me. It was a dream come true, the most precious prayer made reality, and everything I'd ever hoped for. It was confidence itself.
3. Performing each and every show - each one was a treasure. The rush of applause, the after-party cast hugs behind the curtain, the accolades from family, friends and strangers alike. The little girls that gazed at me in AWE and the few whose mothers asked for a photo with me and them, and who clung to my skirt, holding their breath and sucking their hands. Tammy (my director), whispering in an embrace, "You will always be my Anne." 
4. Getting a "promotion" at work (my receptionist job). My boss sitting me down, saying he felt as though they were 'holding me back' and giving me some tasks with marketing and editing. Choosing to go part-time with this new role and responsibility, and quitting my first job at the café. 
5. Our first family gig! We got to do a two hour set at the Mama Creek Drought Relief concert as the sole entertainment, to a paying audience! It was quite a small audience, but some of our friends and family came out, some driving a long way, and it was so special. <3

our gig night! Ft. our fantastic friend on the double bass

What are 5 things you want to do in 2022?

If C*vid wasn't a thing, this list could be so different...

1. Be part of a musical
2. Write my own musical - or at least make progress on it
3. Learn jazz dance, modern jive and continue with my tap. Also, gain more control with my belting technique
4. Work up to doing the splits (scissors, specifically)
5. Buy a DSLR camera and learn how to use it well

(And if our freedoms were restored, there would certainly be some travel popped on that list as well. But if I can truly wake up each day and tell you why I am on this planet, then that's enough for me.)

my other older sis, looking particularly cool

Who are some people that you'd like to know better in 2022?

Obviously, this is quite a personal question. I'd like to know the man that will someday be my husband, if he is out there. (And no, I do not know who.) I would like to better know certain people that I met through theatre, and some of my work colleagues.

And I want to fall in love with my heavenly Father even more, more than I ever have before.

We have reached the end, my friends. :) Did any of this surprise you? I'd love to see your answers. If anything, tell me, what is one thing you're taking away from 2021, and moving forward with into 2022?

My love to you all, and may we continue forth in hope and courage, trusting He Who holds the future. 

The Little Women Book Tag

I've seen this tag going around, and since Little Women is my favourite book, I just HAVE to do it, don't I? ;) I picked up my questions from Eva at Coffee, Classics and Craziness.

Marmee - A Wise And Nurturing Read 

I present to you "Rhythms of Renewal" by Rebekah Lyons. That book is very comforting and definitely fits the bill in my opinion. It's a Christian book speaking into managing stress and anxiety, and replacing it with peace and purpose. It's very practical and helpful, while also a pleasant read. 

Jo - A Book You Can't Live With/Can't Live Without 

Hmm.. I'm not really sure what this means? I feel like maybe Charles Dickens books in general give me this vibe? I read them and get frustrated by characters within them (that I sure wouldn't be able to live with!), but then I keep continually coming back to his stories. (I think I've read over 8 now?) It's a weird relationship, haha. So for the sake of picking one of them, I'll go with "Our Mutual Friend" by Charles Dickens. It drives me bonkers but I'm still weirdly drawn to it and consistently enjoy it. 

Meg - A Book You Accidentally Damaged

Can I just say this was such a hilariously clever idea? xD "Accidentally damaged". Meg's poor hair couldn't agree more, haha. Ahem. ANYWAYS, my answer for this would definitely be "Les Miserables" by Victor Hugo. A friend lent me their copy, and since it was a huge book with a poor binding job, it began to fall apart about halfway through my reading it. Luckily, my dad is a bookbinder, so he was able to take it to work and give it a little love and I was able to return it to my friends good as new - if not better. 

Beth - A Cozy Book 

Without a doubt, "Bread & Wine" Shauna Niequist. ALL. THE. WAY. It is the most scrumptious book ever. Literal comfort food, but in words. Basically all her writing is, though. (I've now read "Present Over Perfect" and "Cold Tangerines" in addition to this one, and they're all equally incredible.) I could eat up all her books, regardless of if they're about food.

Amy - A Pretty Book 

Well, I've seen plenty of lovely books in shops that made me drool through the window, but going from ones I own, I'll say "Romanov" by Nadine Brandes. It's got a DIVINE front cover! (And I won it in a giveaway she hosted, which was pretty epic. ;))

Mr. March - A Book You're Embarrassed You Forgot

Well, going on the assumption that this is a book I forgot existed, I'm going to say "Phantom of the Opera" by Gaston Leroux. I proudly know and love the musical, but I totally forget that it originated from a book! However, I do confess, it is still waiting on my to-read list. My library got rid of it before I was able to borrow it, and I was Quite Put Out. :P

Laurie - A Fun Book 

Originally, I was going to say "The Black Arrow" by Robert Louis Stevenson, but it's been so long since I read it, I'm not sure if fun is the correct adjective. (It was enjoyable, I can tell you that much!) So I am going to switch answers and say "Tom Sawyer" by Mark Twain. Even if you grew up with the story, have you read the book?! Seriously, Mark is a GENIUS and it is absolutely hilarious and definitely fittingly described as fun.

Professor Bhaer - The Classic You Are Most Proud Of Reading 

Since I've already used "Les Miserables", I'm going to go with "The Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexandre Dumas. It's quite an intimidating size, but wow, wow, WOW is it a good book! Highly, highly recommend. I'm planning on re-reading it again this summer.

John - A Sweet Character/Book 

"An Old Fashioned Girl" by Louisa May Alcott (I had to slip her in somehow, didn't I? ;)). It is both a sweet book AND the main character, Polly, is extremely sweet herself. Granted, this book is very fluffy and slow-paced, but it's delightful if you want a cozy, wholesome story. 

And since we're on the topic of "Little Women" - do you have a preference for a movie adaption? I love the 1994 movie and the 2017 miniseries. I've seen an older version (with Elizabeth Taylor) and the newer version (with Emma Watson), and while I appreciate all for different reasons, the book can't be topped, in my opinion. <3

Currently: DEC 2021 Edition

Hi Friends! 

It's been awhile. I was having to work extra hours for work, filling in for some people, and then I went away for a 10 day beach holiday with my family which was wonderful (although it rained most of the time *sigh*). Life doesn't stop. There has also been some other stressors and difficulties that have arisen in my personal life, and I've been having to take time to come to terms with them, and deal with it. 

All that to say, I will be getting some time off work (nearly two weeks?) over Christmas, and blogging is one thing I am hoping I can return to during this time. I have a stack of half finished posts in my drafts that I am excited about, and hope to get out to you shortly. In the meantime, here is a little life update of where I've been at lately, in bullet form because that's always fun. ;)

via Pinterest

Reading:

• "With Every Letter" by Sarah Sundin - I have just finished this one, and did really enjoy it! I rarely read that genre, but it was quite well done, and a sweet story. I'm a sucker for war romance stories, anyhow.
• "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan - this was a re-read for me. I read it a couple years ago and really grappled with what I thought. It's a challenging read - I don't agree with all of it, but it's a good thought-provoker. 
• "Alternative Shakespeare Auditions for Women" by Simon Dunmore - this is mostly just to educate myself more for auditions and theatre in the future. ;) I've already bookmarked some particularly good ones, and rather enjoy whispering them out loud dramatically.
• "On The Way Home" by Olivia Gwyn - this is a poetry collection book by a dear fellow blogger, Olivia! I purchased it off Amazon and I'm so eager for it. I've already read a third and can't put it down.

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Watching:

• Bleak House - this is the miniseries that BBC did years ago. It's a re-watch for me. The show is a little slow-moving (and so looong) but hey, that's Dickens. ;) Esther is such a dear.
• White Collar - it took us 2 FLIPPIN' YEARS to finish re-watching this darling series! My two older sisters and I have had such contrasting work shifts we struggled so much to find a night when we were all home and not having to go to bed early for work. But we finished it, and now I'm sad haha. xD
• Dune (2021) - saw this one in the cinema last weekend! It was actually really good! I knew absolutely nothing about the story - I hadn't even seen the whole trailer - but went with a group of friends. I was blown away by Timothee Chalamet's acting and let's just say I am now kinda obsessed with him.

STOP IT GUYS
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Listening to:

• Christmas music! - Duh. I posted on Instagram a couple of months ago asking for some recommendations and got some fantastic ideas from my fabulous friends. I purchased Josh Garrel's "The Light Came Down" album and Pentatonix's "The Best of Pentatonix Christmas", as a result. Also enjoying all Sleeping at Last's Christmas songs.
• Sunday in the Park with George - I listened to the entire soundtrack (and when I say listen to - I have to sit down and intentionally think through it all as I listen, so it's often a big deal haha). Very fascinating. Clever, clever music. I love admiring other people's creativity.
• Podcasts - always, all the podcasts. Particularly digging any and all "Whoa! That's Good" episodes. So encouraging and uplifting. I always come away with some things to chew on.

via Pinterest

Singing:

• Songs for a gig! - well, that has just passed, actually, but for a solid 6 weeks we were madly preparing for a 2 hour show with 2 setlists of our own choosing. 4 of my siblings (and myself) along with 1 of our friends formed the band, and we played a mixture of country, Bluegrass, gospel, blues, pop arrangements etc. A nice variety. I had 3 solos and multiple group songs. It was a great experience!
• I'll Stay by Riley Clemmons - this is a song I've been working on with my singing teacher and ugghhh, it's one of the hardest I've ever done. I've been playing around with different sounds using my voice, and specifically working on a controlled belt and this song has almost conquered me. xD But I'm so determined I shall get that belt downpat, some day.
• Solveig's Song - another song I'm working on with my singing teacher, on the completely opposite end of the spectrum haha. The timing has been very challenging for me, but it shall not defeat me. ;)

via Pinterest

Writing:

• Editing for work - I've been blessed with the opportunity to do some other tasks and responsibilities at my receptionist job. Now, alongside admin work, I'm also doing marketing and editing/proofreading for the company, and oh my goodness, I love it so much! Who knew editing could be so much fun.
• Journaling - always and forever. Journaling, bullet journaling... all the journaling.
• Blog posts - Well, hopefully. :D

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Appreciating: 

• Spring/summer rain! - Seriously, we haven't had such a wet spring for years and years! Flooding has even occurred and it's not even JANUARY yet, guys. Crazy. But I love the green outside and the storms that have been rolling in... even if that means I can't go the hydro classes I signed up for. *frowns*
• Coffee. So much. - Yeah, my coffee intake has really skyrocketed in the past 3 months. I think it coincidentally collided with when we were rehearsing for our gig multiple weeknights on top of my working the two jobs and doing everything else I normally do on top. That might be it. And now I just have it 'cause it's nice. ;D

Okay, I'm not quite up to Lorelei's intake yet ;)

• Quiet moments - they are few and far between, but I'm trying to be more intentional in making time to just be still, even if it's just a few minutes every day. It might sound silly, but I really struggle with this. I'm always go, go, go to the next thing, and run around with a mental to-do list in my head 24/7, but sometimes, it's important to rest, and breathe and speak a few words to God in the stillness. Especially outside, when the sun is setting.

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Struggling with:

• Single wings/kickback tap dance steps - so I'm ridiculous enough to be learning an intermediate/advance tap dance routine (but it's so fun, and it's a routine for Another Day of Sun from La La Land so how can you not?!). Within this routine are complex steps such as single wings and kickbacks etc. I was definitely NOT taught those in my beginner tap class, so I've watched countless YouTube tutorials on how to do them and some of them say it takes 2 years to get some of those steps and I'm like "heck no! I don't have time for that!" xD
• Saying no - Yeah, that's no secret. I suck at saying no, I also suck at making decisions. I'm not mature enough for this, guys.
• All the political drama etc happening right now - without going into further details, the current situation in Australia regarding a certain virus and restrictions that have happened, with lockdowns and societal exclusions... it's all just an absolute massive headache. And it's so political it's almost funny. But so infuriating. Australia is not in a good state right now and I've never seen it more divided. I don't think I've ever been more concerned about the future. It changes from week to week, and people are losing their livelihoods and freedoms and houses. It's awful.

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Learning:

• To choose a few things and do them well - ohh boy, that's a big one. As Jordan Lee Dooley often states, it's so important to steward your time, your resources and your energy well. And I've been very reckless about that. I want to do all the things, all at once. But I'm learning how valuable it is to cut down on a few good things, in order to make the most of what you DO have, and not give half-heartedly to everything. An example of that is, I will be quitting my cafe job at the end of the year (such a hard, sad decision :() and going part-time with my reception job next year, so I'm no longer exhausted trying to juggle two jobs.
• It's OK to not be OK, but it's not OK to not tell anyone - yeah, a bit of a mouthful. But true. This year has been one of the hardest - if not THE hardest - years I've ever experienced. And there have been many times where I wasn't OK, but found it hard to tell someone. And yet, when I do, everything becomes so much easier. And I wished I'd told them sooner. So to anyone out there who is finding life a bit too rough at the moment, this is your nudge to tell a trusted friend or family member, and reach out for some help and support. I PROMISE you won't regret it.
• You can't expect to progress if you're not prepared to commit and practice consistently - ain't that the truth. I'm a big achiever, but I'm also guilty of cutting corners to achieve things faster and perhaps less thoroughly, so I can get on to the next thing (especially when it comes to my hobbies). But that kind of defeats the point. So I guess this goes hand in hand with what I said about stewarding things well - carefully choose what you want to invest in, and steward it well, committing to doing it to the best of your ability, and consistently. 

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I could probably continue, but that will suffice for now. I've been keeping busy with work and singing and hydro classes and allll the Christmas parties and events hehe. On a scale of 1-10, how excited are you for Christmas right now? I think I'm about an 8, but it's inching higher with every day. Now I'm off to go wrap some Christmas presents! 

Let me know in the comments how you all are doing, and what's been keeping you busy!

The Give Thanks for Books Tag

Rachel was kind enough to tag me with this one a few weeks ago, so just ignore the fact that I'm so late thank you. ;)

The Rules:

1. Thank the person who tagged you. Thanks Rachel! ;)

2. Fill out the tag. Well of course.

3. Share the tag graphic in your post. Done.

4. Tag four friends. Scroll to the bottom to see who.

5. Provide a clean copy of the tag for easy copying. Scroll to the bottom to see what.

The Tag:

G - A book you're Grateful to a friend for recommending: "And Then There Were None" by Agatha Christie

Actually, just all her books. I probably would have never bothered to go and read one except one of my friends insisted I should give them a go, this title particularly. I'm so glad I did; now I've read more of her books than I can count.

I - A book that fires your Imagination: "Lord of the Rings" by J.R.R. Tolkien

I know that's a standard answer, but there is no other answer better. His work sparks my creativity and fires up my imagination more than any other author I've read. 

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V - A book with a Vivid setting: "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier

 I can hear the ocean, I instantly see myself sitting in the morning room, with the bouquets of flowers placed around the room. I can feel the motor of the car as they drive along, and I can picture the maze of rooms, and hear the creak of the stairs in the west wing.

E - An Encouraging book: "Daring to Hope" by Katie Davis Majors

This isn't necessarily a light read, but it is an encouraging one. Especially if you're struggling with the goodness of God, or trying to find Him when the world is crashing down around you. I read it two years ago and it's still stuck with me. Katie Davis Majors has walked through a lot of pain and difficulty, and I believe she could speak into anyone's life and encourage them.

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T - A book that Taught you something: "Don't Give Up, Don't Give In: Lessons from an Extraordinary Life" by David Rensin & Louis Zamperini 

The whole book is literally life lessons from Louis Zamperini himself, who was an incredible man that lived an extraordinary life (true to the book's title). I have read this book twice and would highly recommend to anyone that loves to learn from older people and what they have experienced and learnt.

H - A Happy book: "How to be Lovely - the Audrey Hepburn Way of Life" by Melissa Hellstern

This is a super random book, but hey, why not? ;) This is a non-fiction, happy book filled with beautiful pictures of the actress Audrey Hepburn, with a commentary on her life, her fashion choice, her lifestyles etc. Just a fun, interesting little book.

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A - An Amusing book: "The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde

What a nonsensical, hilarious story! Highly amusing, and a very quick read. I chuckled a lot.

N - A New-to-you book or author you've discovered this year: Nadine Brandes

To be fair, I discovered her last year, but I haven't really "discovered' a new author this year, and I've only begun to love Nadine's work more and more - especially so this year. I follow her on Instagram and I love reading about her parenting and lifestyle etc. She seems like such a lovely, fun person.

K - A fictional character you feel a Kinship with: Anne Shirley

I can't go past Anne Shirley. We are not one and the same, but we're pretty darn close. I had the joy of playing her in a community theatre production of "Anne of Green Gables" this year, and the amount of people that said I was born to play the role of Anne, or that I had always reminded them of Anne, was staggering. She's like a friend I've grown up with, and I get her.

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S - A book you want to Share with others: "Don't Waste Your Life" by John Piper

Ughhh, there are SO many I could have picked. (Close runner-up would be "Everybody, Always" by Bob Goff. SUCH a good book.) But this one I would pick because I think everyone, at some point, wonders, "what am I doing with my life??" This is the book for you. A friend gave this to me after I had been mentioning my struggle of feeling as though I was choosing the wrong things in my life, but I didn't know how to glorify God and yet still pursue the hobbies I enjoyed and things I liked. I think this book is applicable for everyone.

The Questions:

G - A book you're Grateful to a friend for recommending

I - A book that fires your Imagination

V - A book with a Vivid setting

E - An Encouraging book

T - A book that Taught you something

H - A Happy book

A - An Amusing book

N - A New-to-you book or author you've discovered this year

K - A fictional character you feel a Kinship with

S - A book you want to Share with others

I Tag:

Samantha @ Bookshire 

Miss March @ Sunshiny Corner

And... most of the people I'd normally tag have already been picked. So if you'd like to do this one, definitely feel free to grab the above prompts, and let me know so I can read it! :)

Hacksaw Ridge (2016) Review

Hello everyone!

It's been a long time since I've done a movie review. Admittedly, I don't do very many - only on occasion, when I feel a movie deserves a full post. Well, the other week, I watched just such a movie, and I won't be able to get over it until I devote some time to explain how much I appreciated it. (Also, this post will be unashamedly littered with spoilers, so read at your own risk, or skip to the last 2 paragraphs.)

A brief summary of the plot: 

A true story of Private Desmond Doss, who won the Congressional Medal of Honour, even though he refused to bear arms during WWII on religious grounds. (He was dubbed a "Conscientious Objector", but preferred to be called a "Conscientious Cooperator".) During the bloodiest battle of WWII, he saved 75 men without firing a single shot. He was the only American soldier to fight on the front line without bearing a weapon. As an army medic, he single-handedly evacuated the wounded from behind enemy lines, braving the enemy fire. (He was even hit by snipers and wounded by a grenade!)

So first of all, no, this is not a horror movie - the title is eerie, I grant you, and the reason for it is also rather eerie. It's a war movie. It's also got a high rating (MA 15+ in Australia) for violence, for good reason. I will openly admit it was a violent movie, and not everyone's cup of tea. I do not enjoy watching violence, but I greatly dislike it if there is no particular reason for the movie to be violent, except to add "more excitement" or "intensity". No, thank you. But if it is a war movie, where the reasoning behind it is to give you a more realistic idea of what the people who serve go through, based off a real-life event... that I can handle. 

(To give you an idea of the level of gore we're looking at, Mel Gibson directed this movie - he also directed "Braveheart", "The Patriot", "The Passion of the Christ" etc... and this movie has also been compared with "Saving Private Ryan".)

So basically, if violence, even if it's a true story movie based on war-time settings, isn't your thing, this movie is not for you. But, if you can handle a bit of blood and gore, let me give you a few more reasons to watch this movie.

The main reason is because it's a true story! I read a bit more online about how close it was to what happened in real life, and it seems as though they were very accurate with their portrayal. Of course, there are always a few liberties taken - especially (in this case) with the romance between Desmond and his wife, but nothing dramatically different to the truth. And the main focus of the movie - when Desmond rescues 75 main, alone, on Hacksaw Ridge - is particularly intentional in every detail to be accurate. 

The story starts off giving you an overview of Desmond's life before the war. You see him fall in love with a girl, sign up for the army, and survive the brutal boot camp. You get a good picture of Desmond's character in this first section - he was a goofy, thoughtful fellow who didn't put much value on what others thought of him. (Can I add here that I really appreciated Andrew Garfield's portrayal? He played both the silly side and the intense, emotional side exceptionally well. And boy, did he have a ridiculously cute smile.) His romance with his wife - Dorothy - was sweet, although in parts not accurate to the true story. They were married, and stayed together for 49 years, until her death. 

It was difficult to watch his alcoholic father Elrond, but I guess that was the whole point. (Apparently, the movie exaggerated it, as his father wasn't abusive to his mother, nor was he that addicted to alcohol.) I spent ages trying to figure out where I had seen the mother, before realizing it was the lady who played the Aunt (/Mary Poppins) in Saving Mr. Banks. 

Sam Worthington, who played Captain Glover, is a household favourite of ours (hello, Aussie actors!) and it was great to see him in another role. He always makes the TV screen more pleasant to look at. :D

The first half of the film was basically a lead-up to the pivotal moment when one of his mates dies, and the entire army battalion have retreated and scaled down the dangerous ridge. Desmond stands at the top, hesitating. He couldn't bring himself to retreat when he knew so many of his fellow men were wounded, bleeding, and crying out in pain behind him. So he decided to run back behind the enemy lines, alone, dodging the bullets and grenades, and rescue the wounded. 

This was the most powerful part of the story. Desmond went back, slowly, one after another, dragging, pulling, carrying the wounded any way he could, attending to their wounds, then tying a rope around them and letting them down the side of the cliff. His hands were bloodied and raw, blood and mud covered his body, and sweat dripped down, but he prayed, desperately, "Just one more, Lord... just one more."

There's an article I read (it's fantastic - you can check it out here) where the real Desmond said he prayed "Lord, please help me get more and more, one more, until there [are] none left, and I'm the last one down."

He saved around 75 men, alone, within about 12 hours. 

It was truly incredible. Not only that, but the next day, they all went back up the ridge to fight again, and Desmond went with them. This time, he got badly wounded while protecting others. A grenade was thrown at them, and he kicked it out of the way, but it blew up and the impact shattered his leg and imbedded 70 pieces of shrapnel into his body (which gave him a life-long injury). Then, the men carried him on a stretcher, and while they were hurrying him back, they passed another injured man, crying out. Desmond slipped off the stretcher to help the injured man, and gave up the stretcher so they could carry him first. They eventually came back for him, and on the journey back he was also shot in the arm by a sniper. (There were so many other astounding, providential details - Mel Gibson actually left out some of these details in the film because he felt as though the audience would never believe it to be credible!)

The most disappointing factor was the ending for me (but even then, they made up for it). It ended with Desmond being rescued off the ridge and the other men lowering him down, just as he had done for the wounded. I wanted to see the after-war story, have a glimpse of the joyful reunion between Dorothy and Desmond, and see a little of their incredible life after the war. However, the film ended with photographs of the real people, and excerpts from interviews with the real-life Desmond Doss, and other people (including Captain Glover and some of Desmond's family members). So I guess I forgive them.

Not only was this film wonderfully produced, I was a better person for seeing it. It's a bit like what the movie and book "Unbroken" did for me, about Louis Zamperini; it reminded me of why I put my trust in God. It helped me realize how God can raise up men and women of valour in this day and age - people of faith, not just people from the Bible. Just because we live in the 21st century doesn't mean we are not to have the boldness and faith like Joshua or Esther or David did.

It also reminded me how important conviction is, and not only to have a conviction, but to live it. To live for what you know is true, and, by God's grace, to have the courage and strength to carry it out... that is the message that I took from this movie. And I think any movie that reminds you of truth, is a movie worth watching. :)