Link Love

Just some good reads lately.

• Increasing the Passion in Your Homemaking
• Teaching our daughters to be Godly wives - now!
• Just Say No to Sibling Rivalry
• Live Near to Jesus

Anna

Light For The Lost Boy

I'm loving Andrew Peterson's new CD.

Once Upon a Time

Today I'm guest posting at Scribbles n'Things. Be sure and check it out!

Love,
Anna

"Eleven" Post

I was tagged in a little questionnaire about two months ago right as I fell off the blogging bandwagon so to speak, so I'm just now filling it out. Thanks for tagging me, Purposely at Home! 


First the rules:
1.) You must post these rules
2.) Each person must post eleven things about them on their blog. 
3.) Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post and create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.


11 Things About Me

1. I love dangly earrings
2. I've never been that into the colour pink, but ever since we found out we're having a girl, I've gone pink crazy! Pink clothes, pink carseat, pink bedding, pink everything!
3. Many of my friends are online friends. 
4. My favourite flower is a Gerbera daisy.
5. I love spicy food and I love to try new foods. I really like Ethiopian food.
6. Snow absolutely thrills me, so winter happens to be my favourite season. 
7. Growing up, my dad hated cats and I loved them, so I told him when I lived on my own I would have a cat or maybe even several. We would tease each other all the time. Well, then I married a cat-hater. I think one of the very first questions my dad asked Aaron was probably, "Do you hate cats?" and when he found out Aaron did, it was all downhill from there! Oh well, I suppose cats isn't a hill to die on, right? 
8. I volunteered at a crisis pregnancy center for 2 and 1/2 years and loved it. 
9. When I was younger, I wanted to live in Venice, Italy.
10. When I was very little, I wanted to be a postal delivery person. I knew that from a Richard Scarry video.
11. Right now, my favourite book is Timothy Keller's The Meaning of Marriage.

Questions for Me

1. What is your favourite jewelry accessory? Why? I would have to say earrings. And as for the why, well, it's probably because they're the piece of jewelry I actually remember to put on in the morning. 
2. What is the best roller coaster you have ever ridden? Oh this one is easy. Aaron and I went to King's Island this fall and we rode several. I really enjoyed the Diamondback.
3. How many years have you been a part of blogger? I've been on blogger since fall of 2009. I began using it for school assignments as part of a music class I was taking in college. 
4. If you have a college degree, what is it in? I'm working on my college degree. I've had a lot of things slow me down like getting married and getting pregnant! I began with a Music major and am now finishing up with a Humanities major.
5. How many times have you watched the movie Finding Nemo? I believe three times. Aaron introduced me to the movie and I thought it was adorable. I picked it on my birthday last year as something I wanted to watch. 
6. What is your favourite Bible character? Why? I would have to say Anna, not only because she and I share the same name, but mainly because of her devotion to the Lord. There are only a few verses in the Bible that talk about her, but I read them and just desire to be like her.
7. What is your favourite season? Ha! I answered this one above! Winter is my favourite season, cold, snowy winter.
8. What is the most disgusting thing you have ever eaten? Horseradish. Bleh, it's disgusting. 
9. What is one of your new year resolutions? To get to bed at a decent hour! If I go to bed really late it's hard for me to get up in the morning and then the whole day tends to be lazy and I get nothing done. 
10. How fast can you say "Peter Piper Picked a Pepper"? I can do it fast about twice without messing up, and then on the third try it all falls apart.
11. Will you pass this award on to other bloggers? Yes I will!

My Questions

1. When did you become a believer?
2. What has been a very influential book in your spiritual walk? How?
3. What is your favourite store to shop at?
4. Do you wear your hair up or down in general?
5. What city would you like to live in?
6. Who is one of your spiritual mentors?
7. If someone gave you a large sum of money, what would you do with it?
8. Are you a night person or a morning person?
9. Starbucks or Caribou Coffee? Why?
10. Do you enjoy long trips or dread them, whether in a car or a plane?
11. What's your favourite genre of music?

Okay and here are the people I tag:

Impassioned Purity

All The Leaves Are Rustling

Tales From the Little White House

Scribbles 'N Things

Living For Jesus

L&B

Color My Life with Love
Bursts of Sunshine

Link Love

Hi, my name is Anna and this is my blog (in case your forgot who I was in my long silence). I hope I'm back, we'll see. If you follow my other blog (Young And Married ) you would know that we found out our baby is a girl, that we bought a house and we're in the process of packing so we can move! That's the gist of the silence. I thought I'd pop on and remind you all I'm still alive with a little link love!

- Now I'm not going to be a mother of boys, but I thought this was a great post so I thought I'd share. the world needs more good men.

-I'll Never Be The Same - Great post from my sister about coming back from St. Petersburg. Those eyes! That child is quite haunting if you ask me.

-A Letter To My Children About Marriage - This was good regardless of whether you are married or not. I know I needed to read that reminder.

- This sweet post about things Natalie wants to do with her future husband. Also, this one on being a lady, this one on guarding your heart and this funny video. (I agree with Natalie about Twilight though.)

- This rather hilarious video about singing at the drive thru. And this sad and funny video about the state of our universities and the lack of education.

- Natalie again! I Want To Marry a Man Who....

- Thought provoking post about media choices - Glee and Other Media Choices

- Who Will Swaddle Me? - sweet post. I can't help but smile at that baby!

- And last a silly video about homeschooling your baby.

Enjoy! Love,
Anna

Christian Optimism

My brother John has begun writing his own blog! I'm very excited about this because John is a very wise and mature young man. I know I benefit from his thoughts and I'm excited now that others can benefit as well. Please be sure to check out his blog Surprised by Optimism 


I thought while I was sharing John's blog, I would share the other blogs written by my family members:

My sister Lissie writes here at Impassioned Purity. She and John are twins and she also is a very wise person. She has steeped herself in God's Word and as a result, her lifestyle and walk reflect someone who wants to honour her Saviour.

My mom writes her thoughts over at A Deep Breath of Hope. That's truly what reading her thoughts are like: a huge gulp of fresh air. She's very honest and vulnerable about her struggles as a mom. I want to be a mom like her someday, she shares so much wisdom and she certainly has had a lot of experience! She's been a mom for 21 years and she has 12 children.

My family has a blog where they share daily happenings and pictures. I love going there to see what they're doing and see how they're all growing and changing. You can find that here: Unto Him We Live

This little blog has been pretty silent lately and I'm going to be changing that here soon, so don't worry that I fell off the face of the earth!

Love,
Anna

God With Us

Advent: God With Us from The Village Church on Vimeo.

Are you waiting and ready for this Saviour? What a beautiful way to express the Gospel. Enjoy and carry this message with you into Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Praise Jesus Christ the Son and God the Father for their magnificent plan of redemption!

Love,
Anna

Thank you, Ruthiey for this beautiful recommendation. Love you girl!

Sugar Plum Fairy

I thought this was pretty cool to watch. I love Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker and this is a pretty innovative way to play that piece!

Love,
Anna

Handel's Messiah Flash Mob

Most of my readers have probably seen this before, as have I, but it's definitely worth a rewatch. I love Handel's Messiah and this video just makes me cry. It's so beautiful! I hope you enjoy it!




Love,
Anna

Link Love

Source: gypsyvibe.tumblr.com via Cara on Pinterest

• Love Notices Wet Hair - Good article regarding the recent events at Penn State. Also check out: Tragic Lessons from Penn State: A Call to Action . Great perspective.
• Free Will: A Primer
• What Is God Sovereign Over?
• Golden Adornment - My lovely sisters over at my mom's blog. 
• The One with The Age Dilemma - I could really relate to this article, albeit I am a little younger than the writer! Does anyone else feel this way?
• Your Child and Sexual Abuse - Even if you aren't a parent yet, or if parenthood is far ahead in your future, this is a great article to star and keep in mind for the future. I definitely am! 
• What About a Woman that Got Pregnant After Rape? - Great thoughtful article.
• Called To The Orphan - Orphan Sunday was last Sunday, but how can you be obeying the command to care for the orphan today? 

Love,

Anna

Are You Caring For the Orphan?

Orphan Sunday 2011 from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.

We are all called as Christians to care for the orphan. How are you obeying this today?

Love,
Anna

Link Love

Source: google.com via Natalie on Pinterest

1. Who is the greatest? - I REALLY liked the post. Like REALLY liked it. Especially this part: "People ask me sometimes if my hands get tired at the end of the day. My usual reply is, "You know, sometimes they do get a little tired. It's great though because my husband is really nice and he'll give me hand rubs so that helps a lot." Here is a list of several actual responses I have had to that question: 1. "Really? How long have you guys been married? My guess is not very long" 2. "I'll ask you again in a couple of years." 3. "That's nice, enjoy that while it lasts" Is it just me, or is that really crappy? It makes me terribly sad... Sad to think that somewhere in the path of marriage, people stop loving each other practically. Couples stop putting their spouses needs ahead of their own.
2.  Random Thoughts on Marriage - From the same blog, this is just some thoughts that I felt echoed in my own heart and wanted to share with you all. Don't stop making an effort to look good after you're married! Your spouse is the most important person in your life, why do we feel like we can wear t-shirts and sweat pants around them? We made an effort during the courtship/or dating relationship, why not after you've said the vows? Along those lines, check out this blog with her Frump to Pumps Dressing in Freedom: Frump To Pumps Challenge 
3. How To Make Newsprint Nails - I love doing my nails and I think this is an easy way to go more sophisticated than just plain colour. Thanks Ruthiey for the DIY!
4.  This Road Called Vida - I've been reading this blog a lot because I like her genuineness even throughout the tough stuff, but ever since I found out I was pregnant, I've been paying even more attention since she just gave birth to her first precious one. 

Love,
Anna

Listening to Fireflies Piano Tribute

The Invasion

Love,
Anna

Sister-Friends

Once upon a time, I went on a trip with some people from my church and some people from Pastor John Piper's church to help out the people in Pearlington, Mississippi with cleanup from Hurricane Katrina. The half from my church had never met the half from Bethlehem Baptist. We had some awkward first moments but the group pretty much hit it off right from the beginning. I'd like to tell you about one of my dear friends that I met as a result of those two groups coming together.

Her name is Ruthiey. She's quiet when you first meet her, but she has a radiant smile and a delightful laugh that immediately draw you in. She has these lovely eyes that smile all the time. But the greatest thing about Ruthiey? She's an encourager. I never fail to leave a conversation with her without a smile, a lighter step and most definitely an encouraged heart. She always seems to know what to say, what questions to ask, what answers to give in even the stickiest and most unusual of circumstances.

That's not all either! She's very genuine. When you're with her, you never feel like you're with a perfect person because she's honest about her struggles, that life isn't all daises and rainbows and she pairs that wonderfully with the hope the God offers in all of our daily lives. She doesn't just share about her struggles but how she's actively overcoming those struggles with the help of the Holy Spirit. Ruthiey isn't just talk, she gets up and works to change to become more conformed to Christ.

I can't tell you how much of an encouragement, comfort and inspiration this girl is to me. She's simply wonderful. I am so grateful to God for placing her in my life. I love you, Ruthiey girl!
While you're reading my blog, go check our her blog: Color My Life With Love .

Love,
Anna

Listening to Owl City's Halcyon (Pacman)

Link Love

Source: 500px.livejournal.com via Hannah on Pinterest

• Abortion, Infanticide, and The United Methodist Church - This article is infuriating and saddening at the same time. What inconsistency! "Isn't it hypocritical to be outraged by a mom who kills her twin babies after they're born, but indifferent to a mom who hires someone to kill her twin babies before they're born? It is, which is why Princeton ethicist, Peter Singer, says women should be given the right to kill their newborns. He points out that there is no ethical difference between killing a human baby before birth and after birth and concludes that since we've already deemed abortion to be morally defensible, the same distinction should be given to infanticide as well." 
• Here in my arms - Rejoicing with this beautiful family with the addition of their eight child! What a beautiful baby. I love the name they picked out, it has such a beautiful meaning.
• Meant to Shine  - Another blog by one of my many sisters! Four down, five sisters to go! Just kidding...
• encouragement - beautiful reminder, photo and song.
• Family Life Interviews: Carolyn Twietmeyer and Luther and Rebekah Ellis - If you only go to ONE link that I have here, this is the one. (Yes this is another sister's blog!) Very encouraging, even if you aren't considering adoption.
• Christians as Biscuit Dough - Thank you Ruthiey for sharing this great quote from Jerry Bridges! 
• Let Us Be Elegant or Die! - Very good reminder for me to be concerned about what's inside rather than the clothes I wear, my nails, my hair, my shoes, my purse......
• Vows - Last but not least, this post was thought-provoking. Am I true living my vows every day?

Love,

Anna

Listening to Jamie Grace - With You

PS - I can't figure out how I highlighted the whole post, so my apologies but I don't know how to fix it! 

Link Love

Source: 30.media.tumblr.com via Anna on Pinterest

• 10 Reasons Why the New NIV is Bad for Women This is a really good article that was shared with me by a friend. I was dismayed when I heard about the new NIV and this article does a really good job of showing just how destructive this step is.
• Overview - Check out the update from my sister Jaynie! Thank you so much for continuing to remember her in your prayers. She's definitely experiencing adventure and many things that she would never have experienced in America. It's been about a month since she went over there but it feels like she's been there forever.
  
• Divorcing Alzheimer's Victims - How sad! This just about broke my heart. Definitely watch the video at the bottom, I want to have that attitude in my marriage! 
• Salted Caramel Sauce - I want to try this recipe, it looks so yummy and very easy! 
• Giftaway - Check out this giveaway and read about GiveLove365. 
• Motherhood Is a Calling - My Mom shared this post with me. I am looking forward to the day when I'm a mommy!
• Love Tap - This video is cute. Aaron showed it to me from Challies Dot Com.

Have a great rest of the week!

Love,

Anna

Link Love

Source: weheartit.com via Anna on Pinterest

• This Momentary Marriage - This post is soooooo good!! And in case you're curious, this is exactly the kind of marriage Aaron and I have as well. 
• This wedding was so sweet to read about! How often do you hear of twins marrying twins? And wow are they going to have beautiful kids, too! I thought the story about the girls' family was very inspiring as well.
• This was an encouragement for me to be a Radical Blessing to my dear husband. I want someone to be able to call me a "radical blessing" to Aaron.
• Two babies born this week! What a huge blessing. You can find William Paton here and Rebekah Rosalie here. Praise God, the Creator of life!
• I just love this adorable picture of my little sister, Oksana.I miss her!
• Check out this blog: all the leaves are rustling. 
• Really love this quote about love. It made me think.
• My sister Lissie posted this video. A good reminder of just how big our God is!
• Fall! I'm so excited for autumn and can't wait for it's official arrival. I've seen it peeking around the corner, but I can't wait for it to be here completely.

Love,

Anna

Listening to Adele - Rolling in The Deep played by Steven Sharp Nelson and Jon Schmidt

Link Love

Design on our wedding program done by graphic designer Eric West.

1. I wrote this post on the blog I share with Aaron: It's Worth The Wait . 
2. I read this article and was literally thinking "YES! YES! YES!" the whole time I was reading. Natalie is so spot-on and it's such a great reminder for all of us. My mom calls the desire gone bad idea, "a desire becomes a demand" and that's when your desire becomes a sin. Here is that article.
3. Check out this post on my mom's blog. I love the looks on both my sister's faces! I miss those two cuties a whole bunch.
4. I know I already wrote a post about my sister, but here is another plug for her new blog. You can find her blog here. She's been faithful at keeping it updated so far!
5. I have been on a Steven Sharp Nelson/Jon Schmidt/the Piano Guys listening rampage! Right now, my two favourites are Moonlight and The Cello Song.
6. This blog post by my friend Ruthiey was especially beautiful. I love the way she phrases things and the sweet and gentle way she treated the woman in the article was touching.
7. And finally, this recipe for calzones was sooo yummy and really easy. Aaron and I have had these twice, both times making them together and we had a blast. They turned out really tasty too! 

Love,

Anna

Link Love

1. Two posts at the same blog from my friend Kathryn. Here and especially here. I found the second post to be very good and convicting. I hope both do you good as well! I always appreciate Kathryn's open, honest, humble, sweet and encouraging words.

2. I really liked the quote here at resting, resting. Who are we looking to for our assurance?

3. As usual, Sarah at Ampersand Photography had a really good post about what weekends are for. You can find it here.

4. And a little comic relief: this video, called "Fork Control" about the ridiculousness of gun control in our country.

5. A reminder in perspective: What are we truly living for? Are we aiming for heaven or is our gaze earthly? You can find that here.

6. This post of exciting news for a former orphan coming home to his parents! Aaron and I so wished that we could have been there to greet Samuel and Jamie coming home from Moscow!

7. This exciting blog that my mom is now writing! I really miss her wisdom on a day-to-day basis, and now the whole online world can benefit from her little nuggets! Please read and follow her blog. She takes beautiful photos on top of her insights.

I think I'm getting into the swing of things! Hopefully, more to come.
Love,
Anna

My Bookshelf

I just wanted to let you all know that I've added another page to my blog! It's the list of books I would like to read or have read this year. I've thought "Oh wouldn't it be nice to have a booklist on my blog" for quite awhile now but it wasn't until I saw Natalie's bookshelf that I knew I had to have one. So - voila!- here it is for all the world to see!

My Bookshelf

Love,
Anna