Winners and Survey Results

Thank you all for joining me this week to celebrate "Christmas in July!" It's been fun discussing Christmas movies and hunting for pickles ornaments. ;) Hope you've enjoyed it!

And I especially want to thank those of you who filled out the "Christmas in July" survey. I really appreciate your time! It was helpful to read your responses and encouraging to read your comments. Thank you!!!

For those of you who are interested in the survey results, I'll share those first.

"Christmas in July" Survey Results

Total number of people who filled out the survey:
18 people

1. What are your favorite types of posts? (Each person could choose multiple answers.) 64 votes

• Book reviews: 16 votes
• Movie Reviews: 6 votes
  
• Giveaways: 11 votes
  
• Themed posts: 7 votes
• Devotionals: 6 votes
  
• Military: 3 votes
  
• Personal (About my life): 11 votes
  
• Writing-related: 4 votes

(Amber's Thoughts: The top three types of posts are book reviews, giveaways, and personal posts. Not too surprising, but it is interesting to see that personal posts tied with giveaways! I guess blogging is such a community thing, that we like to learn more about each other and see that we all really are human. ;) As for the other types of posts, I realize that my blog can be a bit eclectic, which may keep some people away because I'm not completely consistent in my post material. But for my loyal followers out there, I hope you enjoy the variety, and than you for sticking with me!)

2. Do you enjoy themed weeks on this blog? 18 votes

• Yes: 15 votes
  
• Sometimes: 2 votes
• No: 1 vote
  
• Not sure: 0 votes

(Amber's Thoughts: Good to know! It seems like the majority of my readers like the themed weeks, which makes me happy. I enjoy putting them together and coming up with new ideas, so I'm glad you enjoy them!)

3. Do you have a favorite themed week? 16 votes

• Mystery Week: 2 votes
  
• Love Finds You Blog Party: 1 vote
• Disney/Disneyland: 2 votes
• Camp Humility: 5 votes
• No favorite: 4 votes
• Likes them all/All wonderful: 2 votes

(Amber's Thoughts: These were write-in answers, so some people worded things differently, but this is the basic break-down. I'm kind of partial to that last one on the list... ;) And that's neat that Camp Humility's a favorite! I'll have to keep that in mind, for sure!)

4. Do you read the pages? 18 votes

• Yes: 5 votes
• Some of them: 13 votes
  
• Never: 0 votes

(Amber's Thoughts: Again, good to know. I do have quite a few pages, so I can understand why they wouldn't all be helpful to everyone. But hopefully they're each helpful/interesting to someone!)

5. If you read the pages, do you ever re-check them for updates? 18 votes

• Yes: 0 votes
• Sometimes: 16 votes
  
• Never: 2 votes

(Amber's Thoughts: Understandable. And to be honest, it's not like I update my pages every day. But I do try to keep them up-to-speed, and I usually update the book review and movie review pages every time I post a new review, just so you're aware!)

6. When are you most likely to leave a comment on a blog? 18 votes

• Morning: 6 votes
  
• Afternoon: 4 votes
• Night: 1 vote
  
• Any time: 7 votes
  

7. Do you read my posts on The Borrowed Book blog? 18 votes

• Yes: 1 vote
• Occasionally: 10 votes
  
• No: 5 votes
  
• You post on another blog?: 2 votes

(Amber's Thoughts: Yep, I post on another blog! ;) I started posting on the BB back in February, and my posting schedule was a bit sporadic. But my posts are always on Mondays, and as far as I can tell, for the rest of the year I should be posting every Monday unless something comes up. So if you get a chance to pop over and say hi, I'd love to see you there!)

8. Would you read my book reviews on another site as well as this one? 18 votes

• Yes: 7 votes
• Maybe: 10 votes
  
• No: 1 vote

(Amber's Thoughts: Aww, thanks guys! I've posted several reviews on the Radiant Lit site so far, and soon I should be an official team member. And usually if I post reviews there or on the BB, I won't post them here, so you shouldn't be getting repeats. Unless you're my friend on Goodreads...then you can find all my reviews there!)

9. Have you ever bought a book after reading one of my reviews? 18 votes

• Yes: 2 votes
  
• Your review combined with others' reviews convinced me: 6 votes
  
• No: 10 votes

10. Which type of book do you prefer? (Each person could choose multiple answers.) 30 votes

• Hardcover: 8 votes
• Glossy: 1 vote
  
• Normal paperback: 8 votes
  
• Softcover: 8 votes
  
• e-book: 5 votes

(Amber's Thoughts: OK, I'm totally in agreement with the majority! I know this was a random question, but it was just something I'd been pondering... My mom and I mentioned that we didn't really like glossy as much - as pretty as it is - because it leaves your fingerprints all over it, which is not pretty! I'm rather partial to these softcover ones, but hardcover and normal paperbacks can be great, as well. I'll read an e-book occasionally, but it's not the same as holding a book in my hand...)

"Christmas in July" Winners!

Now, on to the announcement of the winners! According to Random.org's List Randomizer (and including the extra entries Michelle and Sara won on Wednesday), here are the winners:

Michelle (scraphappy) won Surrender the Dawn!

Katy M won 5 Conversations You Must Have With Your Son!

Congratulations, ladies! If you haven't received an e-mail from me yet, be sure to let me know!

Merry Christmas in July, everyone!

Annabelle's Wish: A Journey of Love

Some stories are beautiful because of their complexity - all the thought-provoking details that come together to form a grand whole. (A great example would be The Polar Express, which we featured earlier this week.) But some stories are beautiful because of their sweet simplicity, and Annabelle's Wish is one of those stories.

The animation may not be stellar, but it's adorable. And the heartfelt message about selfless love - well, that is stellar!

This is yet another movie that my family was kind enough to watch with me again for "Christmas in July," enduring the tears that this movie inevitably causes pretty much every time we see it. ;) So now that this movie is fresh in my mind, I'd like to share with you how Annabelle's Wish portrays a journey of love:

A Journey of Love

"Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another."
~ I John 4:11

A little calf is born on Christmas Eve on a farm owned by a kind older man and his grandson - a boy who hasn't spoken since the day he almost died in a barn fire. When Santa comes and visits the animals as he does every year before leaving presents at the house, he gives the animals all the gift of being able to talk for one day. And from the moment the sweet calf Annabelle opens her mouth, she steals every heart with her enthusiasm and curiosity for life. Upon seeing Santa's reindeer and learning about their ability to fly, she is determined that one day she will fly, too.

Christmas day greets her with the possibility of a dear new friend in the young farm boy, Billy. They get along so well right from the start that Annabelle accidentally gives away the animals' secret about being able to talk. And that's when she learns that Billy can't talk. But as the narrator notes, they didn't need speech with the kind of friendship they had - the kind that's more precious than words.

Christmas is soon over, and Billy, Annabelle, and Emily (Billy's friend) all make wonderful memories over the next year. And during that time Annabelle tries her best to be good so that when Santa comes back, she can ask him for an extra special wish. But Annabelle's not the only one with a wish, and a heart for others...

Grandpa - Sacrificial Love

Billy's grandpa is a kind man who takes good care of the farm animals and loves his grandson. As he tells Billy's aunt when she tries to take Billy back to the city with her: "Billy and me - we're all each other's got."

So what is Grandpa's wish? Because he loves Billy, his wish is for Billy to have a good home, good friends, and a good life. When their neighbor, Mr. Holder, takes Annabelle away as payment for the fence Billy and Annabelle wrecked, Grandpa sells his dearest possession - his daughter's music box - in order to buy Annabelle back. To see Annabelle and Billy reunited... It's a moving and poignant scene, showing just how important their friendship is.

Grandpa's love led him to make a sacrifice for Billy. Our example of the ultimate sacrificial love comes from God - our Father who chose to send His Son to die for us so that we might be saved and live with Him forever. Sacrifices hurt, no matter how big or small, but the fulfilled wish in the life of someone else is the powerful reward of such love.

Emily - Understanding Love

Emily is Billy's best friend (along with Annabelle, of course!), and her loving heart is quite exemplary. She cares about Billy so much that she doesn't need to hear his voice to know what it is he wants. For example, after caroling on Christmas Eve, Emily starts to walk away, and it is evident Billy wants to say something to her - but he can't. At that moment Emily turns around and says, "Merry Christmas to you, too, Billy."

And after Christmas, when Emily brings over her new sled so that they can play, she suggests that Billy can be an elf. But almost instantly she changes her mind and says, "Actually, I've decided that I want to be an elf, so you're going to have to be Santa Clause. I hope that's alright with you." The look of joy and contentment in being understood is so sweet as it shines on Billy's face.

For Emily, her love shows in her understanding. Not only does she set aside her own wants, but she cares enough to really see who Billy is and desire his happiness above her own. It's no surprise that such close, selfless friends get married later on in life. Their friendship reminds me of a quote from the movie Little Women: "Your heart understood mine." What a wondrous foundation for romance! And we, too, can show understanding toward others when we realize that God truly understands us, and loves us unconditionally.

Mr. Holder - Humble Love

Mr. Holder is a proud man with a painful past. It is suggested that his wife died, and he has two boys to take care of. He believes that his boys are above all wrong, but when he discovers that this is not the case (ie: when the sheriff tells him his bullying boys were lying about the reason Annabelle "attacked" them), he is forced to swallow his pride.

He is told by the sheriff about the fact that Billy's grandpa sold his beloved daughter's music box in order to buy Annabelle. The sheriff also tells him, "You of all people should know what it's like to lose a loved one."

Yes, Mr. Holder understands. And that is why he buys the music box back and presents it to Billy's grandpa. His act of love is also one of humility. By giving Billy's grandpa the music box, he is showing that he was wrong. And sometimes we must show love to others by humbly admitting we were wrong. Love like that is difficult, but also healing and very meaningful. Knowing that God has forgiven us of so much, we can find the ability to be humble through His grace.

Annabelle's Wish

Earlier I alluded to a wish Annabelle wanted to ask of Santa. All year long she shows love to her friends and works hard to be good so that she can ask for this wish. When Santa returns the following Christmas, she approaches him and whispers her wish into his ear. In the background you can see the reindeer she longs to be like, and you can recall her dreams of flying just like them.

On Christmas morning, Annabelle is not a reindeer. But Billy has a very special package waiting for him in the Christmas tree: an empty one. Yet when he lifts it up and over his head to make sure it's empty, he clearly declares, "There's nothing in here." He can talk!

Annabelle gave up her special Christmas voice for the rest of her life so that Billy could have a voice. Billy exclaims to Annabelle, "But I thought your wish was to fly!"

Annabelle's mother replies, "To hear you talk - that was Annabelle's wish."

Such a powerful example of love! Annabelle's wish - her dream - was for her best friend, Billy. And through the years Billy never forgot her gift.

One Christmas Eve when she is old, Annabelle goes out into the snow, and Billy follows her, worried that she won't survive in the cold. But Santa finds Annabelle and tells her, "I believe someone has a wish for you." And with some Christmas magic Billy gets to see Annabelle transformed into a beautiful reindeer - with a voice and the ability to fly.

It's such a simple story of friendship, daily life, and Christmas cheer. But through its simplicity Annabelle's Wish shares a meaningful message of love that can inspire us to love others just as we have been loved.



(Note: Movie cover image is from IMDb.com, character pictures are from the Annabelle's Wish website, and the song clip is from YouTube.com.)

Come Find the Pickles!

Today I have a fun Christmas activity for you in honor of "Christmas in July!" For those long-time followers, you may recall the pickle ornament hunt we had as our pre-"Love Finds You" blog party activity last December. Well, today you have another chance to hunt for those pickle ornaments! ;)

Since I already wrote about this tradition before, I'm just going to repeat some of what I said last time about this neat Christmas tradition.

The Tradition

The advertisement below featured on The German Way website gives a brief description of this Christmas tradition:

The basic idea is that the parents hide a pickle ornament in the tree, and whoever finds the green ornament among the branches and other ornaments receives an extra gift! In our family, though, we have more than one pickle ornament, so my sister and I both have a chance to win a prize. It makes the game a little less stressful that way, I'm sure. ;) Plus, my grandparents hide pickle ornaments for us in their tree, too, so I think it's safe to say we've been rather spoiled!

The Hunt

Now it's your turn! I have hidden three pickle ornament images in three different posts on this blog. They could be anywhere on this site, so you'll have to hunt carefully! Just remember: The pickle images are on this blog (Seasons of Humility), and you won't find them in any links that take you away from this blog.

Each pickle is worth 5 extra entries in whichever drawing you entered when you completed the survey. (If you haven't completed the "Christmas in July" Survey, click HERE to fill that out first. You must complete the survey in order for these extra entries to count!)

There are three pickles out there, so there are 15 extra entries available! If you don't want to be entered to win either of the books (Surrender the Dawn or 5 Conversations You Must Have With Your Son), you can choose to give your extra points to someone else who is entered in one of the drawings.

The Rules

• When you find a pickle image, just leave a comment saying where you found it (you can either describe the post/page or include the URL).

• You aren't limited to finding just one pickle image, so you can claim all 15 extra entries if you find all three pickles. However, if you want to be nice and not hog all the pickle claims, then I'm sure others will thank you. ;)

• I might be a little slow in checking in, but just know that once all three pickles are found, the game is over.

• Also, please note: the pickle image from last December's game does NOT count. You will find it HERE. Any other pickle images count, though! ;)

Finally, below is what the pickle image you're hunting for looks like. (But this is NOT one of the three I've hidden; this picture is just an example!)

*Update: All the pickle ornaments have been found! Congratulations to Sara and Michelle for finding the three images and getting those extra entries!*

The Polar Express: A Journey of Faith

Some stories have a great message but don't weave it in well with the plot - simply adding it to the end like a caboose or forcing it upon the viewers like an out-of-control steam engine. Not so with The Polar Express!

One thing that has struck me every time I've seen the movie is how deep it is. The theme is complex, beautiful, and both obvious and mysterious. It's not a movie that lulls me into a cozy stupor. It's a thought-provoking movie that challenges me to make connections between all the little parts.

My family was kind enough to watch this movie with me last night in honor of "Christmas in July." ;) So now that the story is fresh in my mind, I'd like to share with you how I see The Polar Express as a journey of faith:

A Journey of Faith

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
~ Hebrews 11:1

Faith. It's what this boy longs for on Christmas Eve, and what he lacks as he waits in bed for the dreaded Christmas morning when all his doubts will be realized. Until a loud rumble announces the arrival of The Polar Express - an opportunity to put his faith to the test if he'll climb on board.

He almost doesn't, but something compels him to give this crazy ride a try. In his pocket appears a golden ticket - "a genuine ticket to ride," as the hobo later refers to these. (But I'm getting ahead of myself!) And the conductor, who is a bit obsessed with keeping to his schedule, punches the boy's ticket with a hole-puncher, forming the two letters "B" and "E" on opposite ends of the ticket.

The Train Ticket

For those of you who have already seen the movie, you'll remember that all of the children on the train have tickets. But at one point when a sweet young girl heads to the caboose to give some hot chocolate to a shy little boy, our hero finds the girl's ticket on her seat and decides to take it to her. And as he steps outside the train car, the ticket slips away into the wind.

Were you like me and curious as to why there was so much focus on the ticket? I mean, it was very cool to see the ticket's travels as it flew through a wolf pack, got snatched by an eagle, snowballed down a hill, and eventually wound up back on the train. But why show all that? Well, as with many things in this movie, I think it's an important symbol. That ticket was a gift: permission given to the girl by someone in authority to be on that train.

Isn't that, in one aspect, what salvation is? We're given a gift - permission to be on God's train, so to speak - that could only come from someone in authority, and it's something we can show to prove that we do indeed have a right to be on the train (through God's grace and calling).

So when the girl loses her ticket, it's disastrous. (That's not to say that this is an exact connection and she symbolically "lost her salvation" or anything like that; I just think the tickets are meaningful symbols.) The parallel came in earlier when the hero asked the girl, "Are you sure?" (Referring to bringing the hot chocolate to the caboose.) And she didn't answer. There was doubt, and she wasn't quite confident at that point in who she was.

The Hobo

Now we come to the hobo who hitches a ride on the top of the train. I have to admit that even though the hobo is a sort of "villain" in this movie, I really like his character. He adds a lot of mystery to the plot, because even though he encourages the boy to doubt Santa (and all that Christmas stands for), he also saves the boy and his friends on a couple of occasions. So who exactly is he? A ghost, as he himself suggests? An angel - or perhaps the devil?

I confess that I have a terrible time trying to define him. But when I stop trying to put him into a preconceived box, I realize that he is an important part of the journey. He is helpful in that he challenges the boy. He physically "saves" our hero a couple of times, paralleling the fact that he "saves" the boy from borrowing someone else's faith or having a false faith. He makes the boy question whether it is all a dream - whether this journey and its destination are real or not. He calls him a "scrooge" and a "doubter," and later on when the boy is trying to hear the sounds of the bell, he first hears the word "doubt" echoing instead.

Our own faith can't be something that we borrow from someone else, be it family, friend, teacher, or anyone else. And if it is to be a true and personal faith, it has to be something that lasts through trials and stands through doubts, questions, and worries.

Gifts

I love how timing plays a role throughout this movie. As mentioned earlier, the conductor is constantly worried about being late as he tries to keep the train running on schedule. But despite all of the obstacles (the roller coaster-type ride, slipping over the ice-covered tracks, etc.), they make it to the North Pole right on time (5 minutes to midnight). And when the hero, the girl, and the shy boy end up getting separated from the rest, it remains 5 minutes to midnight until they are returned. (Gotta love that North Pole clock!)

During that time of separation, our three friends end up crossing a sort of "bridge of faith" (more so for the hero, who can't hear the bells at that point and has to trust the girl's sense of direction) and find themselves in the gift department. That's when the shy boy (Billy) comes across a gift addressed to him.

But on that gift is a sticker that reads, "Do not open until Christmas." I'm sure many of us are familiar with that idea - you have to be patient and wait until Christmas day to open your gifts, even if they're beckoning to you from under the Christmas tree, within your reach.

Isn't it wonderful, though, when you finally get to open the gift surrounded by friends and family, listening to Christmas music and sitting by the lovely Christmas tree? That's when it's just right to open the gift.

Just like our Christmas gifts, God has so many good gifts for us. And how many of them have stickers on their wrapping telling us to wait until God's perfect timing to open them? I confess that this is something I have a very difficult time with - I'm not a patient person! Yet, God's timing is always perfect, and just like the elf tells Billy to trust him with Billy's gift, so we must trust that God will give us the gifts He has planned for us when the time is right. They are safe in His hands.

Believe

While I was hopeful that this was a Christian movie "in disguise," I know that isn't really the case, as evidenced by the words the conductor says near the end: "It doesn't matter where the train is going. What matters is that you choose to get on." (Not his exact phrasing, but you get the idea.) By saying that, there's the suggestion that the destination doesn't really matter, so long as you believe in something.

As a believer in the God of the Bible, I don't think that's true. I think that it really does matter where the train is going.

But despite that, I think this movie's message about belief is so eloquent. When our hero can't hear the bells, we as an audience are allowed to step into his shoes, as we can't hear the bells either. He's frustrated, hurting, aching. And when Santa finally appears, he can't even see him around the elves who are also trying to get a glimpse. He shouts, "I can't see him!"

It brings to mind the point earlier when the hobo told him, "Seeing is believing." And when the conductor later said, "Sometimes seeing is believing. And sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can't see."

Now everything slows around him, and he watches as a bell breaks free from a harness on the sleigh and rolls towards him. He picks it up in the silence and tries to ring it, to no avail. All he hears is the echo of "doubt."

So he must make a choice. Does he believe? Does he believe that Santa is real - that Christmas with all of its joy and warmth and love is real and true? And does he believe it even when he can't see it?

In a breaking voice he finally admits, "OK. I believe. I believe. I believe." Repeating it over and over until Santa approaches him. Then he is chosen as the child who gets the first gift of Christmas. And he chooses the bell - the symbol of his faith.

When his ticket is punched again after this journey is complete, the missing letters are filled in to spell "BELIEVE." But when he gets on the train he realizes that he put the bell in the robe pocket with the hole in it. The bell fell out at some point. So now that his visible symbol of faith is gone, will he still believe?

Throughout the rest of Christmas Eve and onward, I think it is evident that he ultimately does. He eventually gets his bell back, but he knows that it is just a symbol. Its ringing reminds him that he still holds onto faith, even when he grows up.

And so our own faith is like that bell. Its sweet music of hope is our assurance, and our friendship with our Lord through faith is our evidence in the things we cannot yet see. Just like Santa tells Billy: "Friendship is the greatest gift."



(Note: Movie cover image is from IMDb.com, movie photos are from The Polar Express website, and the song clip is from YouTube.com.)

"Christmas in July" Survey with Gifts!

At the risk of being a copycat of Joy from Edgy Inspirational Romance (with her annual reader survey) and Sandra Moore from The Borrowed Book (with her recent reader polls), I've decided to create a survey for ya'll. ;) Some questions are similar to ones Joy and Sandra have asked (I do hope they'll forgive me for that), and some are ones I've just really wanted to ask you, so there you have it!

If you would be so kind as to fill out the survey, then I have a couple of gift options for you! (After all, it is "Christmas in July," right?) At the end of the survey you can choose to enter a drawing for either of these books:


You have between now and Thursday, July 28th, at 10:00 PM (PST) to fill out the survey and enter the drawing. A winner for each book will be chosen using the "List Randomizer" on the Random.org site. You can only enter one drawing, and you must include your name and e-mail address in order to be entered. Also, you must have a U.S. mailing address in order to enter! I'm sorry, but if you don't have a U.S. mailing address, please don't try to enter the drawings. However, please feel free to fill out the survey, as there's an option included on the survey to not enter the drawings. Thank you!

Special Note: You can gain extra entries through a fun game later on this week! More information on that to come. (And more "Christmas in July" posts in general to come, so be sure to come back tomorrow!)



*With thanks to Kelsey Keller and Barbour Publishers for providing a copy of Surrender the Dawn, and B&H Publishing (with PR by the Book) for providing a copy of 5 Conversations You Must Have With Your Son.*

Winners and New Blog Ideas!

Gifts are a special part of Christmas-time, so for the last official day of "Christmas in July" I am thrilled to announce the winners of three different giveaways! =)

Quick Note: For Julie Lessman's giveaway, those who didn't leave an e-mail address (if I did not already know the e-mail address of the person) were not entered in the drawing. I apologize if I didn't make it more clear, but I'll try to clarify more in the future. As for the other drawings, I'm getting kind of confused on who wants to be entered or not, so in future drawings I'll try to remember to only enter those who say they want to be entered and leave their e-mail addresses. Again, I'm so sorry for the confusion! Also, I used Random.org's List Randomizer when picking the winners for these drawings.




The winner of her choice of one of Julie Lessman's books is . . .

Bekka!








The winner of the "Christmas in July" Giveaway is . . .

Julia!







The winner of my 100th Post Giveaway is . . .

Bluerose!





Congratulations to all of the winners! Be looking for my e-mail and please respond ASAP! Thank you! And to those of you who didn't win these giveaways, be sure and check in often--you never know when there will be another one. =)

Thank you so much to all of you for your comments and for visiting my blog! The post with Julie Lessman's interview garnered the most comments I've ever had on one post! I'm so grateful for your enthusiasm.

Now, for the other part of this post! I've been thinking a lot about having my own weekly posts (ones that are repeated every week according to the theme of that day). So I've come up with a list of potential ideas that I would love to hear your thoughts on!

Below I will describe each of the possibilities, and then I would greatly appreciate it if you would pick your top three favorites and let me know in the comments section. I'll probably end up using three or four of these, and I'll make a final decision within the next couple of weeks. I will take the your comments into consideration when making my choice. =)

CHOICES:

Sundays by the Sea: The ocean is a beautiful and mysterious part of God's creation, and I have been blessed to live close to the Pacific Ocean my whole life. For "Sundays by the Sea" I would post devotional thoughts inspired by the sea, drawing from my own experiences and from movies/books which are set on the sea.

True Love Tuesdays: This is for the romantic at heart! On "True Love Tuesdays" we would discuss examples of true love from books, movies, and real life. This would also be an opportunity to share romantic quotes,along with recommendations for clean romantic books and movies.

Winter Wednesdays: To go along with the title and purpose of this blog, "Winter Wednesdays" would be an opportunity to share encouraging thoughts with each other for those times when we're in the winter of our "Seasons of Humility." We all could use some support and comfort for the hard times, as well as reminders of God's sovereignty and plan for our lives.

Travel Thursdays: This would be an opportunity to share where we've traveled in real life, or where we've traveled through the pages of a book. There's much to learn about different places in this vast world, so "Travel Thursdays" would be a fun way to find out more about those places!

Furry Friends Fridays: Many of us are the proud owners of adorable pets! "Furry Friends Fridays" would be days set aside to share fun anecdotes about our four-legged friends. And while I'm at college, I'll either be able to share about the creatures I see on the nature trail or elsewhere on campus, or I could share some of my cute memories of my own pets (from the past and the present!).

Sharing a Smile Saturdays: I've actually implemented this one several times already, so I can continue this if everybody likes it! "Sharing a Smile Saturdays" are meant to make you laugh or at least smile, and the posts can be about jokes, funny college stories, or practically anything that's smile-worthy!

OK, you've seen the choices! (And yes, I realize there wasn't one for Monday. I didn't come up with anything clever for Mondays, so I guess those days will be reserved for reviews or rest!) And I should also say that these posts will only be for those weeks that are not already themed weeks. (For example, I would not do these weekly-themed posts for the "Reading Retreats" Week or the "End of Summer Bash.")

*New update: This morning I went to a MOAA (Military Officers Association of America) meeting at our local Coast Guard station, and I was blessed to have my dad share the videos I had put together from our experiences at Washington D.C. I am so grateful for the United States military, and it was while I was in the car a while after the meeting that an idea came to me. The one day I hadn't come up with a theme for was Monday--and I have a strong desire within me to honor the military in some way. So I'm going to have Mondays for the Military: a day set aside to pray for and in some way remember the U.S. military and the sacrifices they make. This day will not be an option to vote on because I want to implement it no matter what. =) But please feel free to express your ideas on the other options!*

I thank you again for taking the time to look through this and share your thoughts! Have a wonderful weekend!

Christmas in July: Evening Five

One tradition I have loved in the past is the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. The time of fellowship at church is wonderful, spending time in God's Word and reminding ourselves of what Christmas is really all about.

What I especially love is the image presented when the candles are lit. It all starts with the one bright candle, up in front for all to see. The flame of that one candle lights the first couple of candles, and then that flame is shared until the whole room is shining with the light of many candles.

What a beautiful picture! And in the same way, Jesus was the Light that came into the world to set all those who would believe on fire for Him. Take a look at these words from John 1:6-13:

"There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not the Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

Jesus was the Light that came to offer us grace and bring us hope by believing in Him. May we share the light we have been given with others. We did not create the flame--for Jesus Himself is the true Light--but may the Lord use us to pass it along. May the glow of many candles come before God!

(The pictures above are of my grandparents' house at Christmas. My uncle really goes all out when it comes to decorating! Oh, and can everyone see the background now?)

Christmas in July: Day Four

Today we're going to talk about the well-loved and beautiful tradition of . . . the Christmas tree! From setting up the tree, to decorating it, to simply admiring it, the Christmas tree is a gorgeous symbol of cheer, growth, family, and celebration.

Our family actually has an artificial tree. (The tree pictured at left is my grandparents' tree, and that's my beautiful mother standing next to it!) There are some really great points to having an artificial tree, including the fact that it's far less of a mess! It lasts much longer, and there's not much of a chance of it housing a squirrel (for those of you who have seen Christmas Vacation!).

But I can definitely see the good points to having a real tree. For example, it seems that there's a whole grand experience involved in picking out a tree that is lost when one has an artificial tree. And then I'm sure there's an earthy, fresh fragrance that comes with having a real tree, as well.

So, does your family have an artificial tree or a real tree for a Christmas tree? And what do you like about whichever one you have?

Now, we also must discuss another big part of having a Christmas tree--ornaments! There are so many different kinds of ornaments. Our family is a big fan of Hallmark ornaments, and we have LOTS of them! From Mickey as Steamboat Willie to the Wizard of Oz, our tree is fascinating to look at, in my opinion. And Hallmark allows for not only a pleasant visual experience, but also a fun listening experience! Whenever we turn our tree on, a lot of the ornaments all chime in at once. The Wizard of Oz ornament is usually the last one to go off, leaving us with the echoing statement, "The great Oz has spoken." =)

What kind of ornaments do you have on your Christmas tree? And do you collect Hallmark ornaments?

Christmas trees are wonderful for bringing family and friends together, even serving as a lovely background for pictures! The picture at right is one taken this last Christmas break, when some of my friends and I got together at my house for a Murder Mystery Party. That's our Christmas tree in the background. As far as Murder Mystery Parties go, I've hosted two of them and they are soooo much fun!!! Of course, it takes a good sense of humor and people who are willing to stay in character, but my friends always make it a memorable experience! (And yes, I know that I was supposed to get copies of these pictures to my friends that were there . . . which I haven't done yet. Sorry, guys! Maybe I can get this done before next Christmas break!) ;)

OK, since I've already gone off on one tangent, I have a couple more (but please stick with me!). These next couple of pictures are in honor of Ashley (see her comment from the first day of "Christmas in July" if you're confused!):



That's my grandpa! ;) This is only really funny if you've seen A Christmas Story, so I hope these pictures elicit a smile and/or laugh for those of you who have!

And one more thing. Yes, I have a different blog background again! I'm just wondering if it's too dark for "Summer," or too blue. What do you think?

Thanks for putting up with my randomness today, and I'm curious to hear about your Christmas tree memories!

Christmas in July: Day Three

Today is my 100th post! Thank you to my wonderful family for their support and to you--my dear blogging friends--for making my blogging experience marvelous so far! If it is the Lord's will, may the next hundred (or more!) posts be an encouragement to you as we continue on through these "Seasons of Humility."

Now we didn't exactly make it to 50 followers before today, but that's alright! If you stick with me through the rest of this post, I'll have a special giveaway for this special occasion anyway! =)

The picture above is actually a New Year's picture, but we keep the Christmas decorations up for a while after Christmas at our home! Today's Christmas tradition topic is . . . food!

What better way to celebrate this blog's 100th post than talking about food? And isn't Christmas a grand time for food? My mom makes fudge around Christmas-time, which is absolutely delicious! I just love chocolate desserts! (I must get that from my mom!)

And then there's Christmas Eve dinner. Last year we went out to dinner at this beautiful restaurant called The Sunset. It has a gorgeous view, and a lovely interior (pictured at right). No matter where you are, if family and good food are involved, it's sure to be a wonderful time! And Christmas dinner is always a festive affair! I love eating a fantastic home-cooked meal as everyone is gathered around the dining room table. Do you go out to dinner on either Christmas or Christmas Eve, or do you have both meals at home? And do you have a traditional main course for either of the meals? For instance, we usually have ham for Christmas dinner. Yum!

I would love to hear about your favorite Christmas foods and/or Christmas memories having to do with food! And if you leave a comment with your e-mail address, you will be entered in a drawing for the book pictured at left. It's a dessert cookbook from Nestle Toll House! From cookies, to cakes, to chocolate mousse, to fudge . . . it's all in here! (Giveaway is for U.S. residents only. I apologize to my international friends!)

Click HERE to see this recipe book on Amazon.com. Winner will be announced on Saturday, July 24. Thank you all again for making my first 100 posts so fun!

Christmas in July: Day Two

A fun Christmas tradition that takes on many different forms and is completed in many different ways is . . . decorating!

Decorations lend a feeling of celebration to the season, and they can be so much fun to put up! Take, for example, my dorm room this last year at college. My roommate and I had a great time tacking a garland above the window, putting lights and little figurines around the room, and adding general merriment to our living space. (See picture above.) My parents sent decorations for practically every holiday, so our dorm room tended to be quite festive throughout the year!

And I just love how my mom decorates our home for Christmas! Inside and out, it is a beautiful sight! From our four stockings (and one for the cat, too!) hanging in the living room, to the gorgeous Christmas tree, to little scenes set up on tables and cabinets . . . our home is always decked out for the holidays.

Now, my uncle and my grandparents go all out, too. My uncle sets up the outside of the house like something right out of Christmas Vacation (well, almost!), and my grandma sets up the inside as a cozy haven for our family, with lots of miniatures, including a Dickens village over the fireplace!

Decorations help us set apart holidays and special occasions from day to day life. Just seeing any kind of decorations gives us a thrill because we know that something out of the ordinary is occurring. Decorations are so much fun!

But even though there are certain days set apart from others, when we are saved by the Lord, we have so much to celebrate every day! How blessed we are!

As we celebrate this day God has given us, let's talk about some of our favorite Christmas decorations! Would anybody like to share some Christmas decorating memories, as well?

(And if you would like to be entered in the Christmas giveaway this week, make sure to leave a comment on yesterday's post first! Thanks!)

Christmas in July: Day One

Merry Christmas . . . in July! Now my guess is that it won't be a white Christmas for most of us, since it is summer, but I hope that it will be a wonderful time for all of us anyway!

This week will be centered on various Christmas traditions. But before I tell you about the tradition we'll be discussing today, I want to let you know about the giveaways this week! The Christmas-themed giveaway will be going on all week. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post with your valid e-mail address.

For additional entries in the drawing, just leave a comment on any of the subsequent posts this week (between today and Saturday). Only one comment per post will count as an extra entry. Just for clarification, here are the rules in list form:

• Leave a comment on this post with your e-mail address. This is a requirement in order to be entered into the drawing.

• You must have a U.S. mailing address.

• For extra entries, post a comment on any of the other Christmas-themed posts this week. (Only one extra entry per post for a possible total of 4 extra entries.)

• Winners will be announced on Saturday, July 24.
  

Now, would you like to know what the giveaway is for? =) The Christmas-themed giveaway will include a set of Hallmark "Jingling Holiday Bells Salt & Pepper Shakers" (courtesy of my mom!) and a gently used hardcover copy of The Christmas Secret by Donna VanLiere. These can be set aside for a few months until Christmas, or you can have your own Christmas in July at home!

There will also be another book giveaway this week if I can get two more followers! I would love to have 50 followers by my 100th post (which is scheduled for Wednesday). So spread the word, and if I can reach 50 followers by then, I'll do another book giveaway!

And now let us begin our Christmas traditions discussion! Today's tradition is: movies! There are so many Christmas movies out there, and I'm curious to know which ones are on your "must see" list each year. Following are just some of my favorite Christmas movies, in no particular order:

• Jingle All the Way
  
• Christmas Vacation
• The Polar Express
• The Santa Clause and The Santa Clause 2
• Christmas with the Kranks
  
• The Christmas Shoes
• A Charlie Brown Christmas

I'm sure there are many others that I haven't listed that are great Christmas movies, as well! There are so many funny movies, and there are some really touching ones (like The Christmas Shoes, which is a real tear-jerker!). And Jingle All the Way is especially neat for those of us who have Arnold Schwarzenegger for a "governator" (if only for a little longer!). Also, I simply adore The Polar Express, which is very well done, in my opinion!

I would love to hear about some of those Christmas movies you watch every year!