A Little More About Me
a simple, lighthearted post for the sunshine blogger award
I think, sometimes, it’s easy to forget there are real humans behind the words you read. That’s why I finally decided to do this post.
I started blogging in 2021 and I have been nominated for the sunshine blogger award multiple times. But, because the nature of my other blog is more traditional and formal, I have never done anything with it. Now that I’ve started this blog, it feels like a sweet, simple, lighthearted thing to grace your inboxes with in the midst of life’s chaotic heaviness (if you’re wondering why, scroll down for the details).
The simplicity of this post also allows me to tell you more about me, which, I’m hoping, breeds some kind of kindredness among those of you who feel the balance of light and darkness too. So, here’s my invitation to join me on this sunlit bench and chat about some serious, some funny, some utterly random things until the world feels a little bit softer again.
The rules (in brief format): display the award’s logo (check!), thank the nominator (share their blog), answer their questions, and nominate your own list of bloggers (with 11 questions of your own).
I was nominated by
at Understanding Reformed Christianity. I think my favorite thing about his writing is that it is straightforward and patient (which is a very hard combination to achieve). He speaks the truth directly and simply, but he maintains a kind and respectful approach. It’s a rather worthy thing to aspire towards and he does it well. Give his blog a peep, eyy? Even if you don’t agree theologically. I don’t agree with everything he says, but I’ve learned lessons from the manner in which he has said it. I very much recommend.Now to the questions he gave…
By what means did you come to the faith? And/or were you raised in the church, or did you convert sometime along your life timeline?
Oh my, the answer is long. But, as the hymn goes, “I love to tell the story.”
My family lived in the inner-city, serving gang members, drug addicts, all the outcasts you can think of, when I was a little girl. I suppose I always saw the love of Jesus seeping in, binding up the broken things. It was my grandfather, though, who really spurred my salvation.
One day, when I was about four, he told me it was his birthday. In genuine, four-year-old concern, I asked where the birthday cake and presents were. His response was that this birthday was not like ordinary birthdays. It was his birthday with Jesus: the anniversary of the day he was washed new. I realized that if Jesus was what made my grandfather so lovely and kind, I wanted Jesus too. And so, in true childlike faith, I told Him I loved Him and needed Him and wanted Him to make me new again.
The full testimony is much, much longer with many tears and griefs along the way. But joys too. It has really been precious to love Him and be loved by Him. Life with Jesus is amazing.
I know my nominees are a mixed bunch, but I’m asking anyway, I don’t care :) Ford or Chevrolet, and why?
I must admit, I’m a little disappointed that a horse and carriage aren’t options.
In all seriousness, I know next to nothing about cars (expect for how to drive one) and am deeply grateful for my brother and dad for advising me in these kinds of ordinary things that I should really know more about.
Top favorite five authors, top favorite five books, and why?
To simplify this, I will list five favorite authors and note some of my favorites of their works. I have too many favorite books to properly list.
Amy Carmichael: any of her works, but especially If and Things As They Are
St. Augustine: Confessions and On Christian Doctrine
C.S. Lewis: anything and everything written by him
A.W. Tozer: The Pursuit of God
Francis Schaeffer: Escape from Reason and any collection of his letters
All for the same reason: they are poets with a light in their souls. They echo the words of Jeremiah crying, “If I say “I will not mention [Yahweh], or speak any more in His name,” there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot” (Jer. 20:9).
Country home or city home, and again, why?
As an introvert with a deep love for silence and nature and family values, I would be quite happy living in the country, cooking meals and caring for littles running around the yard. I also have an odd dream to own a duck named Atticus and a miniature donkey named Edward.
But, as it is, I could never be content in a place the Lord did not will for me to be. And I do not think I can best accomplish the task of sharing truth if hidden away in a little country home.
What do you hope to accomplish by the end of the year through/with your publication?
I just hope to make people smile and slow down in a busy, heavy world. To be a breath of fresh air. That is all.
Who/what would you say is the biggest inspiration and/or motivation for your writing?
When I was eight, my grandmother invited me to join the high-school-level writing class she taught. I had barely learned my parts of speech, but she saw the “poet” in me before anyone else and she believed that much was enough. She made me write high-school-level research papers with the other students, analyze Shakespeare’s writing, memorize iambic pentameter, and even write out dramas.
She was never easy on me, but always gentle. I honestly cannot imagine being the writer I am today without her belief in me as a little, curly-haired kid with nothing better to do in the summers than sit in on her grandmother’s writing class.
The woods, or the beach?
It depends on who I’m with. I have a great distaste for busy beaches, but if it was quiet and the sun was rising while the waves crashed softly, that would be a very lovely place to pray, I think.
If you can, describe what everyday life looks like for you on substack, in terms of writing.
Well, my reasoning for this blog was to escape some of the rigidness of my traditional blog and have a more creative outlet. Here, I just write when I’m able and when I’m happy or have something worth sharing. I have been posting notes everyday (mostly) throughout April for NaPoWriMo, but otherwise even my notes are sporadic thoughts spurred by random reflections.
Did mosquitoes come before or after the fall ;)
Well, in the words of John “He was in the Beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made” (1vs2-3). Since it is in reference to creation, I must argue for mosquitos coming before the Fall. Though, I’m curious what spurred this question.
In your opinion, what would you say is the most powerful form of worship?
Oh, I think it is all powerful. I wonder if, in some ways, it is not split into “forms of worship” in God’s eyes. Perhaps to Him it is all melded into one grand, joyful, deep sound of glory from the sinners’ heart? Because, after all, it is the heart that matters to Him.
And last but not least… this question has divided nations, ripped friends and family apart, and impacted the earth like a hundred 500 kiloton nukes simultaneously detonating all over the world….IS…WATER…WET.
Thanks to
, I have a very satisfactory answer (all credit goes to him as this is his explanation):A single water molecule (H2O) in itself is not wet, but we don’t usually sense single water molecules because of how tiny they are. The visible, touchable, swimmable, drinkable water we do sense is always more than one water molecule (like a lot of them).
By the definition of “wet” (being covered or saturated by water or liquid), water we typically sense is wet since it’s water molecules covered by other water molecules.
So innately, water (H20) is not wet in itself but becomes wet when grouped with other water molecules, which is always the state of how we sense water.
So the answer is it depends. Depends on if we are talking a single water molecule or multiple (like a puddle or lake or glass of water).
Isn’t that answer so delightfully satisfying?
Now, I’ll nominate a few people (although, there is no pressure for anyone to do this), and I’ll provide a few new questions for them. To keep this from getting too long, I will try to describe my reasons for picking each of them in a few, meaningful words.
at : the best description I can think of is that her personality is gentle and her writing is graceful. Reading her articles feels like breathing in night air and touching stars.
: please read his poems. They are so simple and sincere, with little etches of hope and rawness woven in-between every line. He does not shy away from the shadows, but draws them into light.
at : sitting in a bed of moss while a friend picks out tunes on their guitar—that is what it feels like to read her words. There is something delightfully whimsical and blissfully childlike in her articles.
at : I do not think anyone on here makes me giggle as much as Briar does. Her articles aren’t complicated, just relatable and silly and sweet. She writes what is on her mind and details daily adventures. It’s lovely.
: Molly was actually one of the first people to nominate me for this award, several years ago. She is so dear and her writing feels like walking through a summer garden. I highly recommend “An Introvert’s Guide to Being an Extrovert.”
Now is the part I have been really waiting for. I get to ask new questions to the next nominees.
What is something simple that makes you very smiley?
If your writing style were a color, what color would it be? Why?
What is a question you wish people asked you more?
What do you do when you are afraid?
Do you enjoy listening to music while you write? (If so, what have you been listening to?)
If you could relive one memory, which would it be?
What is a specific, random thing that makes you feel very loved?
(Something others wouldn’t know unless you told them: e.g. my mother texts me random things she finds that remind her of me (pretty book covers, rooms with the kind of decor I like, recipes to things that meet my food restrictions, etc.) and she does it because it makes her think of me, but, to me, it is like a special act of love).
What is the first thing that pops into your mind when I say, “tell me something good”? Don’t think about it. Just say what comes.
Is hope a choice?
Do you like your name? Why or why not?
What is an unexpected sweetness/joy that happened to you this week?
If anyone who isn’t one of the nominees would like to answer those questions in a comment (or on your own blog) please do. I really love asking questions and listening to people’s answers.
I know this post was a bit different, but I hope it was still a sweet fragrance in your week.
May His love wrap you up and grant you peace until next time.
Your blog is lovely! I'm so glad to have discovered it and look forward to reading more!
This is so kind, Rue, thank you!