03 December, 2015

Spring Blooms











So, spring is over. These three months have gone by faster than I like to think. They’ve been busy and full, and yet there’s still been quiet moments, and slow days, and a sense of contentment. I’ve finished a creative writing course, done a piano exam, played violin in several concerts, got more experience in writing, felt the urge to go deeper and to do, been away and seen familiar places and new places, received many blessings, got to spend time with friends, realized how important sleep is for literally everything, read far fewer books that I would’ve liked to, welcomed my younger sister into her fifteenth year of life, and everything in between. Although there are many other things I could have done, and should have done, I feel like’s it’s been a real spring for me; a time of personal thought. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, or processing, as I’ve come to call it.  

I’ve found so many amazing Bible verses recently. Some really spoke to me, and I think this one was my favourite:

“Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:28-31 

November was National Novel Writing Month, and while I’ve never seriously considered participating in NaNoWriMo, I had an idea after I read a comment about someone who was planning to write five hundred words a day during November. This sounded far more achievable that writing 50,000 words in November, so I decided to do it too. In my head, I called it November500. So I wrote at least five hundred words a day (not including personal correspondence), any words; I wasn’t working on any particular project or book. There were days when I didn’t want to, when I felt like I had no words, and there was the fatal 25th, when I clean forgot, and I didn’t write a single word that day. But it was a good experience, and I’m glad I did it. I’d like to do it again sometime. 

And on the topic of writing, there’s this writing contest I came across, and I’ve decided to enter it. I’ve written up a little story, and I just have to edit it a bit. I’m kind of nervous because I know my writing is very unpracticed, but it’s also exciting because I’ve never entered a writing contest before. The contest doesn’t close until December 12th though, so you can still enter too! Read the details here. 

And, I did a guest post for The Three Musketeers here. It’s five facts about you. :) (You can read my interview with them here too.)

In my thinking recently, I came upon why. I’ve come to think that “why?” is the most powerful question. Think of the places it can lead your thought, imagination, knowledge, and understanding. I think we’ve become a world of dumb humans who just ride the tide, and we need to stop and ask why? Why are we just following everyone else? Why do we believe what we do? Why do we do what we do, and don’t do what we don’t do? Why? When you know why, you’ve got something to stand behind and fight for. 

God has given me so much this spring: opportunities, the encouragement of friends (including blog readers!), help in exams and performances. I’m not wishing spring away, but I’m looking forward to all He’s got in store for summer. 

“For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.” Psalm 48:14

But! I want to hear about your spring (or autumn if you’re on the other side of the world). What did you learn? What’s been your recent favourite Bible verse, or song, or book? Have you been writing anything lately? What do you think of the idea of November500? Are you looking forward to summer?

15 comments:

  1. Ohhhhhh!!! Lovely photos Jessica!!! But where I am, we have a foot of snow!!

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    1. Thanks Erudessa! Enjoy your snow; where I live, we don't get snow at all, even in winter! :)

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    2. Have you ever experienced snow?

      And I tagged you for a Christmas Tag on my blog.

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    3. Why, thank-you! I'll go and check that out now. :)
      And yes, I have experienced snow. Years ago we lived close to the snowfields so we went skiing often.

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  2. These pictures are so lovely! Spring is such a beautiful season. Our winter has finally kicked in, though it's pretty mild.
    Good luck with your story! I hope you win - the prompt picture has me excited to read it :) I've been terribly frazzled with my Rooglewood entry, so that's been pretty much the extent of my writing. I tried the April Nano, and learned that 50,000 words is just waaaaayyy too much for me to do in a month, at least for now. I did just over 20,000 then, so I definitely like the idea of November 500. :D
    Beautiful post! I hope you have a fantastic summer!

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    1. Thanks Mary! And good on you for doing 20,000 - that is a lot! I've never written a story over a couple of thousand words, so I'm impressed. :) All the best with your Rooglewood entry, I hope it comes together for you, and that you win! I always enjoy reading what you write on your blog, so I'm sure it's good! :)

      Thanks again for putting a smile on my face with your comment, and enjoy winter!

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  3. You posted! (I did mean what I wrote on your last post.. :)
    Yes, summer is here definitely. Although I have been enjoying the warmth after some cool days in NZ (it wasn't that bad).
    Wow 500 words a day! That's an effort.
    I think in the past few months you've really matured. I know it's weird for me to say that but it really seems like it. You're an adult. I'm telling you this as a kid still. It's impressive.
    I liked the verses you included and the photos are really good too. :)
    Have a good Sabbath!

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    1. Um, thank-you! (If you haven't noticed, I'm awkward about receiving complements, but seriously, thanks; it means a lot to me. :)
      It's funny to have you say I've matured, because I feel like I'm going backwards, and looking younger as well (which is not helpful when my brother looks older. :P) So if there's anything good or mature coming out of me, all credit to God! I don't feel like an adult at all, and, by the way, I never think of you as a kid. You do grown up things, and I always forget that you're actually younger than me.
      Hope you had a good Sabbath too, and keep enjoying the warm weather! :)

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    2. Oh, I meant "compliments"! :P

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  4. Those are such gorgeous photos!! Way to go you on writing 500 words a day in Nov. That's amazing. I love the thoughts on "why" as well, so true. I need to ask why more. Great post, keep 'em comin'!

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    1. Yes, do ask "why"; it's crazy I had never thought about why I do some things, or what I actually want them to accomplish. So simple, and yet we overlook it!
      Thanks so much for your encouragement! xx

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  5. Oh! These photos are simply beautiful! I love the sunlight filtering through some of them & the beautiful depth of field in them! Congratulations on your writing project! While writing comes very hard for me, I am always amazed by people who piece them so wonderfully!

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    1. Thank you for reading, and leaving such an encouraging comment, Rosi! Praise God for making beautiful flowers and sunbeams!

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  6. Gotta be honest, when I read "So, spring is over." I was like, "DUDE I WISH THE SAME WAS HAPPENING HERE." Seriously, I wish the next season was summer and not winter (ugh) but I'll live. xD It sounds like you've been having a lovely few months! "I feel like it’s been a real spring for me; a time of personal thought. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, or processing, as I’ve come to call it." < thiissss though. So important and good and nourishing, y'know?

    Ooh, that scripture. ♥ yummy. I actually just wrote that down in the reminder section of my to-do list (where I jot down mantras and things I should remember about myself): "They shall run and not be weary" because GAH I LOVE IT. ♥ yes. thank you for that. :D Oooh, I like the November500 idea! That's super interesting. I love to see writers getting creative and making new projects for November other than NaNo. That sounds like fun. :)

    "Why? When you know why, you’ve got something to stand behind and fight for." < WOW YES. So much yes. The "why" is the reason behind literally everything. And reading your thoughts on it has really inspired me to write something in this category, because I've been thinking about that I lot lately, too. It's so important and deep like an ocean. My toes are reaching for the bottom, but it isn't there. ;) So thank you for that insp. ♥

    I HOPE YOU WIN THE CONTEST! But mostly I hope you just have loads of fun doing it. :) That's the best part, after all. It was great to catch up on your life and thoughts lately, Jessica!

    love,
    abbiee

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    1. Haha, I see you prefer warmer weather! Let's swap! :D I always said winter was my favourite season, but actually after this spring, I'm not so sure.
      Have you ever done NaNo? It sounds like a lot of words, but I added up how many I'd written in November for the 500 challenge, and it was over 20,000. So that was shocking, and kind of impressive. :)
      Oh yes, please write your thoughts on 'why' and whatever else it brings to mind! I'm looking forward to reading it already. :) And your analogy of reaching for the bottom, and finding it's not there describes the way I feel so accurately. Put it this way: I don't think I'll ever run out of things to think about!
      Thanks for your encouragement about the contest! And yes, much as I wouldn't say no to winning of course, the best part is the experience.
      As always, thanks for your wonderful comment, Abbie! :)

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