28 July, 2016

To Tag or Not to Tag?


A few people have tagged me in the past few months, and I finally decided to catch up and do all the tags (in one, hopefully not too boring, post). :) Thanks to each and every one who tagged me; it’s an amazing privilege to be part of the blogging community.

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Aaliyah and Clare both tagged me for the text tag: 

1. What is your favorite letter of the alphabet? 

Perhaps ‘P.’

 2. What are three words that you love?

Three of my current favourites are: pioneer, enthusiasm, restored. Go look up the origin and meaning of the first two - it adds so much.

3. What are three words that you hate?

There are some words I’ve disliked for years, so I think I’ll go with them: soil, quiltlet, and fungus. If you guessed those would be the words, you know me well. :)

4. If you could create a word, what would it be, and what would it describe?

Maybe a word for this already exists, but I’d invent a word that describes that feeling when you’re in a new place, or new company, or new situation, but yet it somehow feels familiar, like you imagined it years before. Or am I the only one who gets that feeling?

5. What are your three favorite punctuation marks?

The semicolon, comma, and dash are the ones I use most often; the semicolon is my favourite.

6. What are your three favorite fonts?

Ha, I basically only know the names of three fonts, so I don’t have favourites. :)

Aaliyah’s question: what do words mean specifically to you?

I think it’s fascinating the value God places on words, and that leads me to believe I should value them too. He created the universe with them, He created us with them. I think we should treasure words, and make sure we’re sharing words that hold weight, and brighten life for someone. I think the power of words is beyond anything we know.

Clare’s question: Do you like writing? If so, share a favourite snippet of something you have been working on recently.

Yes, I do like to write. Mostly, I write diary and devotional journal entries, blog posts, and occasional articles. Here’s an excerpt from my devotional journal (not that I write like this every time):

…God chose to use us, because He knows how much it will bless us, satisfy, and fulfil us. You know how, when we were younger, we couldn’t wait to do grown-up things, adult things, stuff big people did? Now, having gotten a closer look at grown-up, adult, big people stuff, it’s not satisfying. I’m not feeling fulfilled because now I can drive a car by myself, or go shopping by myself, or stay up late if I want. Because, I wasn’t created with the end goal of being a grown-up. I wasn’t created to be an educated grown-up, or a wealthy educated grown-up. I was created because I was needed, needed by God to fulfil a master world-saving plan. I was created to feel most satisfied when I am most lost in the glory of God. We have a God-shaped need. We came from God, and we always feel lost until we go home, back to where we came from, and where we belong.

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And, Victoria tagged me as well:

1. Who is your favourite superhero and why? (It can be an actual tights and cape superhero or a real-life one.)
Outside of my family, it’s my music teacher. She’s incredible; she just gives and gives of her time and experience, and never asks or expects any return. She’s got such a big heart, she’s always there, and she really deserves the term.   
2. If you had a whole day to yourself to do whatever you wanted, what would you do?
I’d probably try to catch up on everything I’m behind on. If, by some rare chance, I was caught up I might do some cooking, write a letter, go for a walk, take some photos, or plan a surprise for one of my family members.
3. What was your favourite book of 2015?

Good question! Thankfully I keep a list of all the books I read, so I can go back and have a look. According the my ratings (yes, I rate them all, and write comments about them, and list the main characters,) it’s a tie between Have A Little Faith, Between Shades of Gray, Fierce Beauty, Tales from the Secret Annexe, Walkto Beautiful, and One Thousand Gifts. You knew I couldn’t pick one, right?

4. If you could live anywhere outside of your country, where would you live?

I actually have no desire to live anywhere else, because Australia is pretty great. And yes, you may call me biased (and ignorant, seeing as I've never been out of here). :)  

5. Is there a specific piece of clothing you wear all the time/often?

Pyjamas. :D If you don’t believe me, ask my family.

6. If you're a writer, which genre do you write in the most? If you're not a writer, then which genre do you read the most?

I guess for this question, I’m a reader. I read Christian, non-fiction, historical/based-on-a-true-story/true-to-life fiction, and most things in between.

7. What's your favourite way to spend your evenings?

I like to spend them reading, knitting in front of the fire with the family, or writing in my diary. Eating combined with any or all of those things is also good.

8. Which accomplishment are you most proud of?

The accomplishments that I feel most satisfied afterwards are those where I step outside my comfort zone. It can just be something little – complimenting someone, giving out a tract or book, or trying to be friendly.

9. If you could time travel (not to the future, though :) ), when and where would you go?

Maybe back to the Reformation era, or the time after the Reformation, when the Bible was still held in high regard, but the Christians were no longer being hunted. I’ve just been reading about it lately. :)

10. Briefly describe a usual day for you.

I’m not convinced I have any such usual days, but most of my days include: spending time with God, eating, studying, music practice, spending time on the internet, more eating, making meals, spending time with the family, and maybe reading, knitting, communicating with friends, and housework.

11. Who is your favourite fictional character?
I think Thad in Spotted Boy and the Comanches was the first character I ever became attached to when I read the book over six years ago. I still like him.
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And I’d also like to mention Lydia and Hannah, who both tagged me for tags I’m unable to answer, (simply because I don’t have answers – I couldn’t think of any villians for the top ten villians tag, and I don’t really watch movies so I don’t have favourite actors, etc for the show time tag.) I still really appreciate the thought though, so thanks to you both. :)
I’m not going to tag anybody, but please feel free to take the questions and do the tag, if you want to.
So, what are your favourite words? What accomplishment are you most proud of? And you probably noticed the title of this post – what are your thoughts on tags? Are they boring, interesting, a blessed relief, your favourite thing to read? Do you do tags (if you blog)? I’m rethinking them at the moment, so I’m interested in hearing your perspective. :)