Favorite Photos of the Week - Deer

I think that deer are such beautiful animals, and fawns are so cute too!

Here are some of my favorite photographs of deer that I found on DeviantART.com this past week.
These photographers do an AMAZING and beautiful job and I especially loved how they photographed these beautiful animals. Enjoy! 

Three in the sunset

by David

Deer by Monique

Hug me

by Saromei

White-tailed Deer Fawn In Grass

by kkart

Doe by andy-j-s

Relaxing In The Morning Light Of Autumn

by kkart

Running roes

by JMrocek

Which photo is your favorite?
Love, Rebecca

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Book-Tober! Interview with Lina from Life According to Lina

 The Garden Window by Daniel F. Gerhartz:

1) What was the first book that drew you into the joys of reading for fun?

-Hmm, one of the first books that I can remember reading was Curious George by H. A. Rey. I had the original book and a collection where he joined the circus, delivered newspapers, went in a rocket, and had to go to the hospital (from swallowing a puzzle piece!). I remember reading that countless times and still love those stories about the "little monkey named George [who] was always very curious."

I recently found a collection of Curious George stories at a book sale and absolutely had to buy it to be able to share him with my children in the future.

2) What picture book  from your childhood sticks out in your memory?

Oh, so many do! I'd have to say that one of my all-time favorites is What Sadie Sang by Eve Rice. Sadly, it's out of print now, but it's such a sweet book about a little girl who sings everywhere she goes! My mom says that she used to read it to me constantly, and I'd like to think that that's what helped start my love of music at an early age. Who knows? :)

3) As a teen what book or book series was your favorite?

I loved (and still do) the Maximum Ride series by James Patterson. I would eagerly wait for each new book to be released so I could read each new adventure. I was so sad to hear that James Patterson ended the series, though I know it can't go on forever. I haven't read the last 2 books yet because I don't want the story to end!

4)What was your least favorite book you ever read?

My least favorite book was either Beowulf or the book Hot, Flat, and Crowded by Thomas Friedman. I could never get into Beowulf, and I had to read Hot, Flat, and Crowded for a college class. I didn't really appreciate the writing and worldview.

5)What was your favorite book you ever read?

There have been so many books that I love, but my favorite books up to now have been The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins or The Deadliest Monster by J. F. Baldwin. I read The Hunger Games before it became a movie and a huge craze, and I really appreciate the story, the characters, and the commentary on society. The Deadliest Monster taught me so much about worldviews and how to know what I believe and why.

6)What book is a must-read for your future children?

My children will definitely read The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J. R. R. Tolkien. The themes of good and evil and how good will eventually always win are so powerful! My first introduction to these books was through my mom reading them to my siblings and me, and I'd love to continue that with my children.

7)What was the funniest book you ever read?

Two of the funniest books I've read are God Loves My Kitchen Best by Mab Graff Hoover or Because I Said So by Dawn Meehan. Both of these are recollections from moms who tell stories about their families and the good, the bad, and the hilarious of everyday life. I absolutely loved reading them!

8)What was the saddest book you ever read?

Sing Me to Sleep by Angela Morrison is an incredibly sad book about a character with a terminal illness. I read it in one sitting late into the night and had tears streaming down my face when I finished it. The story was great, I really cared about the characters and it was music-themed, so I loved that.

9)What is it that leads you to decide whether a book is enjoyable or not?

There are many qualities I use to decide whether a book is enjoyable to me or not. I look for a great, original story or one similar to one I love. I want the characters to be developed well and to be realistic people I can relate to in some way. There also should be some sort of morals or lessons taught, and I definitely prefer books written from a Christian or moral worldview.

10)What is the title of the oldest book you own and when was it published?

One of the oldest books I own is a 1951 first edition of All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor. It's not extremely old, but it is definitely well-read!

Huge thanks to Rebecca for interviewing me for Book-tober!

Lina is the author of Life According to Lina, a product review and giveaway blog with a sprinkling of recipes, crafts, and reflections on life.

Note: This post contains affiliate links.

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Beautiful Bride-To-Be

I had the privilege to go with my brother's fiancee to pick out her wedding dress! The dress in the photos above are NOT the dress she chose, however she looked so adorable in this one I did snap a couple pictures! I thought this dress looked very ballerina-esque. Sarah didn't want such a big poofy dress, and the one she choose is a beautiful one! I can't wait to show you all photos of that one- She found a beautiful empire waist gown with a beaded top and organza overlay on the skirt. It even had sleeves on it! 

It is so fun to watch my brother and his fiancee together. It brings back so many memories of when Justin and I were engaged and waiting anxiously for our wedding day to arrive. 

Needless to say I am very excited about the wedding and Sarah joining our family. She is very sweet and she compliments my brother very well. It is still crazy to think my baby brother is getting married- wasn't he just five years old yesterday? It certainly feels like that sometimes! 

Collin will be the second one on my family to be getting married. The next oldest is 15 so my mom will be getting a few years off of having to let go of her babies. Who knows, maybe these next few years will add some grandbabies! 

Love, Rebecca

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Booktober! Interview with Franchesca

Young Girl Reading by Ivan Olinsky

What is it the leads you to decide whether a book is enjoyable or not?

  I think that how I feel while reading and after I'm done leads me to determine if the book was enjoyable.  I read mostly christian fiction but some stories are better than others. The difference in books is when I feel not only entertained but spiritually renewed. I like a book where I come away relaxed. I have enough stress in my life.

 I also like a book where I can enjoy the story and I not feel assaulted by unnecessary foul language or disturbing imagery. But mostly, as my husband would tell you, I like a book with a happy ending. When I finish a book I want to uplifted. There is nothing worst than finishing a book and feeling depressed or annoyed.

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Franchesca is a wife and mother who attends my church, She has a very generous and caring heart and I am so glad she let me interview her! 

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Sarah and Collin Engagement Portraits

My baby brother is getting married next year! 

I had the wonderful privilege of taking their engagement portraits.

I hope you enjoy these photos and the utter cuteness of these two little lovebirds. 

I can't express to you all how excited I am that Sarah will soon be my sister-in-law. She is without a doubt the perfect match for my little brother. I have heard her gushing about how sweet and awesome he is and how much she loves him and it is just so precious to watch them together. It brings back so many memories of when Justin and I were engaged! 

 I hope you enjoy these photos.

Love, Rebecca

                    

 

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Book-tober! Interview with Haley

Girl Reading by Charles Edward Perugini

1) What was the first book that drew you into the joys of reading for fun?

Hard to say! I've loved reading for a long time!! But I remember loving the American Girls series and the Hattie books when I was little.

2) What picture book from your childhood sticks out in your memory?

Babar the elephant! :) And Goodnight Moon . . . and these wonderful books of illustrated biblical parables we had.

3) As a teen what book or book series was your favorite?

I LOVED the Young Merlin series! Also Mysterious Benedict Society!

4)What was your least favorite book you ever read?

Another tough one! There were some history books my sister and I read for school that are now infamous in my family - they came from the series World Leaders: Past and Present. I was bored out of my mind by those when I was younger!!

5)What was your favorite book you ever read?

Aside from God's Word, which is infinitely precious, I'd have to say one of Louisa May Alcott's books, The Key to Rondo, Frankenstein (I know that sounds weird!), or The Mysterious Benedict Society #2.

6)What book is a must-read for your future children?

I think the book The Deadliest Monster will be a must-read. It really helped me to think in a biblical way from a worldview standpoint.

7)What was the funniest book you ever read?

God Loves My Kitchen Best is hysterical! True stories from a hilarious mom of two! :)

8)What was the saddest book you ever read?

This isn't a book, but rather a short story. Edgar Allen Poe's The Pit and the Pendulum depressed me for sure!

9)What is it the leads you to decide whether a book is enjoyable or not?

I look for an engaging style that isn't shallow, but instead deals with real ideas or presents something in a new way.

10)What is the title of the oldest book you own and when was it published?

I'm not sure! The "old" books I have aren't very old . . . for example, I have a book called The Maestro published in the 1950s (I think) which is about Arturo Toscanini.

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Haley is a long-time childhood friend of mine and the sweetest girl I have ever met. She is a very talented violinist and a bookworm! 

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Book-tober - Interview with Me!

 by Charles Edward Perugini

1) What was the first book that drew you into the joys of reading for fun?

As a child the first book that really captured my attention was The Box Car Children. Our local library had a painted wooden boxcar model that held the books in the series. I was obsessed with The Box Car Children for several years.

2) What picture book  from your childhood sticks out in your memory?

There are several  picture books that I remember, mostly for the beautiful illustrations, one of my favorites was I Had A Cat by Mona Rabun Reeves, and Julie Downing (Illustrator)

3) As a teen what book or book series was your favorite?

The Redwall Series hands down. I LOVED those books and couldn't get enough of them! My personal favorite book in the series was Triss.

4)What was your least favorite book you ever read?

Many Waters by Madeline L'engle. While I LOVED her book A Wrinkle in Time, 

I found Many Waters had adult situations and was not appropriate for my age and it made me uncomfortable. Long story short I never read any more of her books.

5)What was your favorite book you ever read?

I, Coriander. The way Sally Gardner describes her characters and settings in this book are breathtakingly beautiful. I have read it several times through. 

6)What book is a must-read for your future children? 

This is a tough one! For a childrens' books, definitely Elephant and Piggie books, and of course If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. 

7)What was the funniest book you ever read? 

 The Five Children and It, my mother read this book to me and my brothers when we were young and I remember the constantly giggling. 

8)What was the strangest book you ever read? 

Monsieur Eek. Its only strange because its not really my type of book and I read it during my early twenties. It was on my shelf for some reason and I was like, "Hmm, this looks interesting!" 

9)What is it that leads you to decide whether a book is enjoyable or not?
If I can relate to the characters in some way will greatly influence my enjoyment of the book. An exciting or simply interesting plot will also pull me in. Characters that are dull and poorly written can be a disappointment as well as excessive crude humor or content.

10)What is the title of the oldest book you own and when was it published?

Marigold, 1938. Although I am more fond of my copy of Black Beauty from 1945. 

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