Ode To Joy

So…

An announcement.

I have been nominated for the Liebster Award by a fellow blogger, Alisa! Here’s her blog: check it out! https://onthehousetops.wordpress.com

Basically, this award is given by bloggers to bloggers: the goal of this award is to spread the word about our blogs so more readers would know about us.

What I’m supposed to do is to answer the eleven questions Alisa has asked me, tell my readers eleven random things about myself, nominate eleven more blogs, and ask them eleven questions. One could tell that the inventor of this award likes the number 11. 😛 I’ll put the formal rules of this award, the blogs I chose to nominate for the award, and my eleven questions at the bottom of the post.

Here goes….

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Alisa’s 11 questions and my answers:

When & why did you start your blog?

I guess even my earliest readers have no idea.  😛

I started this blog in December of 2016, and began to share my thoughts, stories, poems and occasional essays with my readers. A while ago, I got the idea of hosting “Author Interviews” on my blog: right now I have around six authors interviewed, and still counting. Full disclosure: I initially wanted this blog to be the launching pad for my book-writing journey: however, my ventures into the fiction-writing world have not been that well-publicized. Right now, the goal of my blog would be to encourage others, brighten their day, and share how God has been working in me.

What is your favorite dessert?

Hmm…I’m not sure. Definitely not ice cream. I’m not a big fan of cookies or pies, either. Puddings?…Nope.  I’ll try to stay safe by saying I’ll enjoy any dessert that’s gluten-free, dairy-free, grain-free, sugar-free, GMO-free…you get the idea. We have talented cooks and bakers in our family: I’m blessed.

Yes: you could actually make lots of desserts that fit those restrictions. But fat-free? I dunno. ;P

What was the best book or series that you’ve ever read?

Besides the Bible? 🙂 I don’t think I’ll be able to choose just one. Right now, my top favorites would be Laura Hillenbrand’s Unbroken, the complete E.M. Bounds on Prayer, and the complete (and unabridged) Sherlock Holmes. Did not see that one coming, eh? 😛

What are your hobbies?

Playing the Ukulele. Day-dreaming. Drawing. Running miles down country roads in the summer. Writing poems and short stories. And blogging, of course. 🙂

What is your Myers-Briggs personality type?

I love this question.  I’m an ENTP. A ‘Debater’ according to the 16 Personalities website. My sisters agree. 😛

What’s the farthest you’ve ever been from home?

I think Seattle (Washington, USA)? That would be…does a quick Google search..roughly 2073 miles (3336 km) from where I’m living.

What’s your favorite song and/or artist?

Hymn: Take My Life and Let it Be by Frances R. Havergal.

Piano Solo: Franz Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 (in C# minor) and Jarrod Radnich’s version of the Pirates of the Caribbean.

Violin: The Butterfly Lovers’ Violin Concerto

Contemporary: MercyMe’s Dear Younger Me.

(These favorites stand…for now, at least. I never know when I’ll find my next favorites. 🙂  I’m not sure if I have a favorite artist: but the ones that are worth mentioning would be Maria Callas, Adam Gyorgy, Tiffany Chan, and Itzhak Perlman.

Do you have any pets?

No: I’ll love to, though. I used to have a pet ewe some time ago. I’ve had rabbits, cats, and chickens.

Oh, wait…I forgot. Yes: I actually have literally hundreds of pets. You see, I keep a plastic box in my basement that’s full of worms, and I get to feed them and change their litter…That’s what you do with your pets, eh? (Check out ‘Vermicomposting’ before you’re grossed out and think I’ve lost my mind. 😛 )

What’s your favorite color to wear?

Black, khaki, dark green, purple, and dark blue. I’m not sure how people match colors with one’s looks, though: I just pick my favorite colors. 🙂

Do you know any other languages?

Besides English? I’m fluent in my mother tongue, Cantonese. I could speak minimal Mandarin and read parts of the Bible in Chinese. I could guess at Spanish words written or spoken–same with French. But I could say I only actually know oral Cantonese and English fully.

In a brief nutshell, how did you come to know the Lord?

In a brief nutshell: through my family. Especially through my parents and grandparents. I got saved at an early age, and God has been working hard in me ever since. I am not the easiest piece of clay to mold, trust me: I’m eternally grateful to have a God Who can do all things, and Who never gives up on me.

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Now: the promised eleven random things about myself.

I’m getting nervous…

1. I live on a hobby farm. We’ve had cows, a steer, ewes, lambs, meat birds, ducks, rabbits, cats, and laying hens. Oh–don’t forget the mice, rats, raccoons, squirrels, chipmunks, and birds. Those critters drive my dad insane. 😛
2. I’ve been homeschooled all my life. What a blessing! I’m now into the last few months of high school.
3. I am the second oldest of eight. And our family’s not big at all–it’s perfect-sized. 🙂
4. I love to play matchmaker. Especially for my sisters. 😛
5. I love to debate/argue on pretty much any subject.
6. I am 5’3″ and weigh more than I’d care to tell you.
7. I’ll rather write a story, essay, or poem any day than play the piano.
8. My Chinese name translates to “Grace”. But never call me “Miss Grace” or “Grace Chan”, please. 😉
9. I love storms. Especially thunder-and-lightning types.
10. I’ve fallen off twice from the back of a horse–and stood back up thrice.
11. I’ve killed more than fifty chickens with my hands and a knife.

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Blogs I nominate:

(I did not exactly find 11: I tried my best, though.)

Scribes & Archers

Scattered Journal Pages

A Purpose and a Promise

inklings press

Lakeside Publications

Soaring up into Sunshine

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The Eleven Questions:

1. What’s your morning routine?
2. What’s your favourite book of the Bible, and why?
3. Describe your dream home.
4. Would you describe yourself as extroverted or introverted?
5. What’s your favorite pick-me-up?
6. What is the craziest thing you’ve ever done?
7. Would you rather drink coffee or tea?
8. What’s your favorite animal–and why?
9. What is your dream job?
10. What is your God-given vocation or calling?
11. What’s your middle name, and what does it mean?

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The Rules:

Acknowledge the blogger that gave it to you and display the award.

Answer 11 questions that the blogger gave you.

Give 11 random thoughts about yourself.

Nominate 11 other bloggers and notify them of their nominations.

Ask your nominees 11 questions.

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…And thanks for reading this lengthy post. Have a great day! 🙂