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11.29.2013





sweater: gifted from kohl's // jeans: target // boots: rue21 // les mis scarf: gifted from etsy




I laughed really loud and cried some, too.
I changed and I learned. A crazy bunch. 
I tried gold eyeshadow and wore big sweaters and chopped off my hair. (And love them all.)
I cried when a friend told me she loved me and I knew she meant it.
I watched the autumn colors mingle with fresh snow.
I was wrong, but I was right a few times, too.
I listened to Christmas music.
I discovered that being dependent on God is way more freeing than trying to do it myself.
I've written more than I have in a long time. 
I decided cold weather and I should be best friends.
I won and I lost.
I read a thick book. Yum.
I'm grateful for my family. Grateful I have them, grateful they're with me, grateful they're mine.
I am learning how to trust God with the things I don't know (which is practically everything).

I told God He was too good to me.
And I'm pretty sure I heard Him laugh.

Happy (late) Thanksgiving, friends.

We can't pretend to see the ending or what's coming up ahead
To know the story of tomorrow
But we can stay close to the One who knows 
We can trust our God
He knows what He's doing
(love&theoutcome)


p.s. I've been craving an exceptionally good book to read. Any ideas? A book that changed you, moved you, or left you in an awed stupor. That's what I'm looking for.

30 comments:

  1. Laddie, or A Girl of the Limberlost, both by Gene Stratton Porter. :)

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  2. Glimpses Of Truth by Jack Cavanaugh. That book is one of my biggest soul books EVAH.

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  3. This genuinely made me smile....and that last part about God laughing when you said he was too good to you? I almost started crying. Yeah.....

    A good book.....*starts rubbing hands together in a mischievous manner* Okay, so I am totally engulfed in Jen Turano's books.....I finally found an author I adore! A change of Fortune, I just finished, and am almost done reading the other one....uhm, I forget the name. haha. It has the word circumstance in it....I think...haha. Anyhoo, you should get it! If you like historical romance/mystery, its super good. (and she is really clean with the romance. Its great!)

    Love you Petie girl. Gotta talk soon :) *hugs*

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  4. Ooh, and I forgot to mention how gorgeous I think you are....Yeah. and am slightly jealous of that Les Mis scarf....and your hair....Oh it really turned out beautifully.

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  5. Your boots and hair. I'm in love. Ok this is dangerous. I wanna chop off all my hair now.

    Did you ever get around to reading Tale of Two Cities? I decided tonight that it's my favorite book of all time :)
    Love,
    Mallory :)

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  6. Happpppy Thanksgiving, Payton! :-) Have you read "Grace for the Good Girl" by Emily Freeman? That book and the series "Contentment" "Trust" "Joy" and "Purity" by Lydia Brownback are some favs from the past 2 years. I've been challenged so much by the truth found in them. :-)

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  7. Hey Petie, wonderful post. I am really liking your new blog! What was the thick book? I LOVE big books! Um a recommendation... have you ever read the Mitford series? I just stumbled across them this September and I really like them! Finally, I'd like to tell you I nominated this post for Amy Dashwood's "I'd Like to Share."

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    1. The thick book was Inkheart by Cornelia Funke. That book is pretty much every bookworm's dream. Loved it!

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  8. Beautiful!! You are such a gorgeous girl!! =D Being a photography freak, (I ask everyone this question!), what camera do you use?

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    1. Hello there, Jemimah! I use a Nikon D3100 with either a 18-55mm or 35mm lens. :)

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    2. Awesome!! How do you find it's performance? I'm looking at getting a Nikon D5200 when I have the money, so am very interested in how other people's Nikons work for them. Thank you!

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    3. Well, I don't have anything to compare it to, and I'm certainly NOT a professional, but I like it very much! It suits me and my style of photography very well. And I would definitely recommend the 35mm lens. It's gorgeous!

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    4. fantastic!! i've heard glowing reports on the 35mm lens, most people i know who use nikons are in love with it!

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  9. Oh my Petie, this post is the best. You are so beautiful! Also, the part where you mentioned God laughing? Such a wonderful picture of God and of us not understanding His love for us. Amazing.

    A book idea? Have you read The Book Thief? It's wonderful...and the first to have me shedding tears upon tears. :)

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  10. Lovely post Petie. And i really really like your hair short like that. It's so pretty.

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  11. What a beautiful post. Your words and photos are amazing.
    I would recommend Eloise of Westhaven: Not Just a Kid. It's a really good read; one of my favorites!

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  12. I'm not a major bookworm, but I'm always ready to give book recommendations. I would suggest In Freedom's Cause by G.A. Henty. I'm not a major Henty fan in general, but I love this particular title. It's the inspiring story of Scotland's war for independence in the 1200s. If you would like to read a Christian book, I would suggest Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss. Katherine Mortimer is someone any girl can relate with.

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  13. How the heck are you so gorgeous. What even.
    Okay, seriously, you need to try Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, The Book Thief by Markus Zusac, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, and the Emily books by L.M. Montgomery.... or Kilmeny of the Orchard, by the same.
    Inkheart is amazing forever and ever amen. That series is practically perfect in every way.
    Christmas music... yessss. She & Him Christmas has been my favourite.
    You da bomb.

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  14. This post was so inspiring. Seriously, I was tearing up by the end! :')
    As for books...hmm...I'm going to second Eva's recommendation of Glimpses of Truth. It's an amazing book. :)

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  15. Beautiful. Simply beautiful!! I have so enjoyed getting to peek into the journey that has led you from Dirt and Dickens to All Things Bright and Beautiful. Such an honor!

    An excellent trilogy that I got into was The Circle Series by Ted Dekker. Tears and laughter rolled into those three! Masterful analogies tying back to God's Word. Totally worth checking out.

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  16. SO is it weird that I am giving you a suggestion of what to read? I, a total stranger, who stumbled across your blog while reading Amy Dashwood's blog, which I stumbled across reading Elegance of Fashion, which I stumbled across while reading one of my very best friend's blog Austenitis? Hmmmmm...oh well who cares NOT ME and we are a lot alike and i like your blog. SO.

    Have you read the first three books of the 'Time' series by Madeleine L'Engle? (A Wrinkle in Time, A Wind in the Door and A Swiftly Tilting Planet) They are superb literary masterpieces, and despite being fantasy, gave me what I call 'spiritual spine shivers' (Avoid alliteration always)

    If you're not a fantasy girl, well. Become one. :)

    Or. 'The Red House Mystery' by AA Milne. Yes the one who wrote Winnie the Pooh. Best books ever, btw. BUT. This is (sadly) one of his only adult books. and it is really good!

    Or, 'Run Silent Run Deep' by Edward Beach. a book about submarines, WWII...need I say more?

    in the fantasy genre, (yes I love fantasy. Why do you ask?) 'Ender's Game' was the best book I've read (for the first time) this year. It does have some vulgar language in it. Nothing bad, but it was a bit surprising.


    This is a really huge comment. Whoops.

    Grace B.

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  17. Loved this post, Petie-dear! ...and yes, I've commented on your blog before, but it having been a Wordpress blog, you probably don't recognize me here on Blogger (did that make sense?). I was the one who commented under the name "EmilyC." :)

    *raises hand* I have a book recommendation. "Radialloy" by J. Grace Pennington. It's the first in her growing Firmament series, and I loved it! It's sci-fi, but it's really good. Not that I have anything against sci-fi in general, it's just that the genre is not always appealing to everyone, if you follow me. Oh, and always read the Anne of Green Gables books. You probably have already, but if not, go do so. ;) Then there's "Little Women", my favorite book. That's most likely nothing new to you either, but you could always read it again... ah, and have you read "To Kill a Mockingbird"? Go read it. You'll like it.

    Okay, I'm done. ;) Have a beautiful day, you gorgeous girl, you!
    - em -

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  18. GOSHDARNIT YOU GORGEOUS WOMAN YOU. your pictures, this post, those words...so much loveliness. oh! I know of a good book! it's called lets-skype-again-soon, by jess. weird title, I know. but the book is supposed to be full of laughs and weird moments! heh heh heh seewhatididthere.

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  19. I second the Gene (short for Geneva-must be made clear, love that name not the nickname) Stratton-Porter recommendation (it seems like I recommended her before...maybe not on your blog). Her books are sweet and since they are early 1900's I think, veerry clean in most catagories, don't know about language. Her writing is exquisite. I think my fav is Keeper of the Bees, but Laddie is also lovely. Both are just delicious. I don't even know how to express how amazing. Oh, and Rosemary Sutcliffe's Eagle of the Ninth, Shining Company, Outcast, Silver Branch, Lantern Bearers, and Warrior Scarlet. These are Ah-mazing! But those are the only ones I can safely recommend because I have come across a few that are horrid in the worst ways, so beware stepping outside this list without recommendation from others. Do you like fairytale and princess stories retellings? I recommend Beauty, Entwined, Princess of the Midnight Ball, and the Ordinary Princess. If magic of that sort bothers you, I think ordinary princess is Disney level magic. Sorry for such a long list but I love my precious books. I also second Emily of New Moon trilogy by L.M. Montgomery. I love reading comments and posts for new books to try. I tried the Mysterious Benedict Society because of one of your posts.

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  20. And by horrid I mean evil; sorry for the second comment, but I have a complex from not being careful enough in my recommendations. I cannot even whole-heartedly recommend the Mysterious Benedict Society because of something (which could be entirely imagined, so please don't ask) in the third book. I also retracted a recommendation from the Inkheart series years ago. Why does perfectly amazing writing have to be so soiled sometimes? Why do we have to second guess ourselves because of modern culture?! Sorry for the gloom.

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  21. The Abolitionist by Elisabeth Allen is beautiful. That would have to be the book that challenged me most this year - apart from the Bible.
    Beautiful photos. Wish I could photograph like that.

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  22. I really love The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery, and Jane Eyre. The first is a wonderful, cozy book, and the latter just blows me away every time.

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  23. Wow, you are *SO* pretty! And I love your new blog :) Hmm, have you read Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis? That is my ABSOLUTE favorite for whatever reason. I also love Sir Gawain & the Green Knight by Tolkien. ::grin::

    blessings in Christ!

    Rachel (the farmgirl)

    {mysunkissedfarm.wordpress.com}

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  25. Hello Petie!
    Have you read "The Phantom of the Opera"? It is a little heart - rending, but despite that fact (or because of it,) I still love the story. :) Another good book is, "Behold the Dawn" by K. M. Weiland. I hope you are having a lovely Christmas season!

    Eowyn

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Your comments are the sugar to my iced tea. Which means they make my day.