Hey bookworms! I know I’ve been missing blog posts lately, but I’m finally moved into my new house. (Which means I have my beautiful books back from storage! *throws virtual confetti* YES!) You can expect to see more regular posts on FTB and more comments from me on your blogs again. Today I’m joining Purposeful Pages – a brand-new link-up launched on Amanda and Hannah’s blogs this month, and I finally get to join! The questions are so creative and fun, and I’m excited to answer them. 🙂

What exactly is Purposeful Pages? Purposeful pages is a monthly link-up designed to unite bloggers on answering questions about life, blogging, the Bible, writing, and books. Visit Amanda or Hannah’s blogs for more info!

What verse and chapter of the Bible inspired you the most this past month, and why? I’ve been thinking about Matthew 6:31-34 and 2 Corinthians 5:7 lately. My family has been in the transition of moving, and it’s been a challenge for all of us to exercise patience and trust in God as we are in between houses – which involves a lot more homesickness, frustration, and tears than I bargained for. This summer in particular has taught me that it’s easier said than done to completely put faith in God. Both of these verses tells us not to worry about tomorrow, and hand your worries to God. I love them.

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. – Matthew 6:31-34

I will walk by faith even when I cannot see. – 2 Corinthians 5:7

What’s a book (fiction or nonfiction) that you read or continued reading this past month that reminded you of an important truth? Miniatures and Morals: the Christian Novels of Jane Austen by Peter J. Leithart. In his analysis of Jane’s writing, Leithart explains that the seemingly insignificant details of daily life (portrayed often in Jane’s books) make up the most important parts of our lives. I definitely recommend this book for an appreciation of Jane Austen’s literary genius.

“If ‘nothing happens’ in Austen, it is because ‘nothing happens’ most of the time. Yet, precisely because of this limitation, because so little seems to happen, every nuance and contour of what does happen takes on considerable importance. We begin to realize that men can be cads without kidnapping women and confining them in dark towers, and women can be vicious without poisoning their rivals. Men can be cads just by being male […] and women can kill as effectively with words as with arsenic.

“If we read Austen sensitively and begin to see things through her eyes, we begin to see that much is happening in our lives even, or especially, at those frequent moments when ‘nothing is happening.'”

 Do you have any goals for yourself this month? If so, what are they? 1: Practice piano more often (and diligently.) 2: Help my family get our new house in order. 3: Get more active. 4: Draft August blog posts. 5: Listen to more audio books.

Have you discovered anything new or changed your blog around this past month? I’m still working out a consistent blogging routine, but I changed my blogging schedule to Wednesday and Saturdays instead of Mon/Wed/Fri. I also updated my review policies page, which I love doing. I probably nitpick my about and review policies more than I should. I’ll never perfect them. 😉

What is your favorite blog post that you wrote in June? That would be my May Recap. Monthly recaps are by far my favorite posts to write.

 Can you share one quotable thing from your novel/book (if applicable) that you recently wrote? agghhhh…. *frantically scrolls through WIP for snippet most worthy of sharing*

“I couldn’t begin to put into words what stars in the Seaside sky looked like. There were millions of them strung like popcorn in the inky sky, aligned in a quiet corner of the universe. Seaside. I couldn’t get enough of it. I took everything in: the sound of the waves crashing against the shoreline. The breeze rustling my hair. The sticky salty air.” – Emily @ For the Bookish, April 2016

What biblical character would you get along with the most, and why? I had to think a lot about this one. But I finally decided to agree with Hannah and say Moses. He got tongue-tied often but was a great writer. (He wrote five books of the Bible!) I can SO relate to that, and I think we’d understand one another well.

Favorite new word unearthed from the dictionary? saxicolous // one who lives under a rock

I happen to think this word is hilarious. Most of the time, I have no clue what anyone my age is talking about, which provides awkward interactions wherein I’m the saxicolous. Not that I’d add this word to a conversation with any of my peers. That would make me a sesquipedalian. (One who uses big words.) 

In the blogging world, what’s one thing you have learned about yourself? I much prefer writing than talking. For one thing I have a bad habit of saying ‘like’ in place of a billion other perfectly good English words. (It’s a habit that annoys even myself.) I’m an eloquent writer but not an eloquent speaker. (Unless I prepare beforehand.) I can write and rewrite my words until I’m satisfied. I also don’t have to speak over large groups to be heard. Typically in social situations I’m overthinking what I want to say, and then the conversation moves on. (Thus making me the kid sitting quietly observing everyone.) So in writing I’m more relaxed and can be myself.

Since I’ve also made so many friends through my blog, I think I’ve become more confident in the two years that I’ve had FTB. I don’t feel as if I’m the only one who reads a lot or likes to write. I love meeting people with common interests as me all the time.

What fictional character would you spend the day with, and what would you do? Maxon Schreave from The Selection. It’s cheesy, but I’ll admit it: he’s my dream prince. We’d go to the beach (the best place to get lost in a book) and take hundreds of photos (since he’s a photographer.) And find strawberry ice cream someplace. (I hear he likes a girl with an appetite for strawberry tarts, but ice cream will have to do in a pinch.) And be awkward and dorky together, as one does when in the presence of beautiful Maxon Schreave. *internally cries for that whole “fictional” thing*

Do you follow Amanda and Hannah’s blogs? Have you joined in the link-up? What fictional character would YOU spend the day with? (Ah, decisions, decisions.) 🙂 Talk to you soon!