TELL THE WORLD I'M COMING HOME | blog relaunch

it's a new year (okay, okay, it's a 21 days old, but it's still new. ;)) and I'm so excited to relaunch this blog with something that God's been working in my heart for quite some time now.  IN RECKLESS ABANDON has been the name of this abode a little over two years and I truly feel that it has served it's time very well in my heart. but, it's time for a change. don't get me wrong, the sole object of my life is still to live in reckless abandon for the King and His Kingdom, but it's a new season and it's time for growth. 

so let me introduce you to

COMING HOME.

over the summer of 2014, Jesus taught me so much about "home" and where "home" is. I didn't notice it at first, but suddenly it became the theme of my summer. "home" started popping up everywhere, I kept finding tons of quotes mentioning it, my pastor spoke about it several weeks in a row... it became very evident that there was something to be found in this theme. there are hundreds of quotes about people realizing their home isn't a house, it's a person, their soulmate. and i always thought i'd have to wait for home to be in the person i'd spend forever with but, Jesus changed my entire aspect on that. He gently showed me that HE is my home. And my relationship with Him is just like a marriage-- I have to move in (being IN Christ), unpack my bags, and resolve to stay forever. i realized, my home IS in a person- it's IN Him, and He is going to be the one my soul is going to spend forever with. i once saw a quote on tumblr where someone was giving marriage advice-- and forgive me, i'm going to completely kill how she said it, but she said something to this affect:

"when you get married, you are two pilgrims searching for new land, you both find the piece of land you want to settle on and you know you need each other to survive. so you swear to face each day, side by side, and burn your ships and the port in order to make leaving not an option." 

that's what I have to do-- I know He isn't going anywhere, however, my soul is prone to wander and I need to make leaving not an option. so, this is my journey coming home. 

and I also want to thank you all for following along on this journey. seriously, you guys are the absolute best and your comments make my heart smile every single time. 

be blessed, friends.

xoxo. -marcia
[ post title credit x ]

a photo challenge {happiness}

I am so excited to announce to you the first ever photo challenge at Enchanted Musings!!

The theme is:

::happiness::

so basically, anything that brings you joy or happiness! 

rules:
1. the photo must be taken by you

2. each entry must link back to this post or use the button

3. link up your post, not your blog
4. the contest will last for 3 weeks (May 10)
5. you may link up your flickr, tumblr, photobucket, or whatever you want!
6. and have fun!

<a href="http://alilyamongthethorns98.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img border="1" alt="ALTERNATE TEXT" src="http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j428/enchantedvintagelover98/button-2.jpg"></a>

anne of green gables week// questions

Well, Miss Dashwood is having the most lovely event at her blog: Anne of Green Gables Week!!
So, naturally I'm participating. :)

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1. How many of the Anne books have you read, and how many of the films have you seen?

I have read every Anne book at least 4-5 times, (and I just got my last book for my birthday *fireworks* more on that later...) and I have watched all three movies, and loved each one, well except the last one wasn't my favorite.
  
2. If someone yanked your hair and called you carrots, what would you do to him?

ok, well I wouldn't mind if someone would call me carrots, and it would depend on how hard he yanked my hair. I hate having my hair pulled, actually one of my early memories is when a boy pulled my hair, I must say it  always made me quite angry. hehe. But really if someone pulled my hair, I would be tempted to pull his back, so unladylike I know! 
::random thought::
what if Anne would have went to school with green hair? Gil could have called her lettuce, or broccoli, or spinach? *giggle*

3. What would you do if Josie Pye dared you to walk the ridgepole of a roof?

well, really I am way to chicken to walk the ridgepole, but pretend I never said that and I shall use Marilla's sensible answer: "I'd have stayed on firm ground and let them dare away, such absurdity!"

4. If you had the opportunity to play any AGG (I'm abbreviating from now on because I am a lazy typist) character in an AGG play, which role would you choose?

Diana, or Ruby Gillis

5. If you were marooned on a desert island, which AGG character would you want to have as a companion? (Anne, Gilbert and Diana are not options.  Let's keep this thing interesting.  Not that they're not interesting.... oh, yay, now the disclaimer to this question is longer than the question itself.  Lovely lovely lovely.)

oh, Phillipa Gordon (in Anne of the Island, which is my favorite book aside from Anne of Green Gables, of course, oh and Anne of Avonlea.) 

6. If there was going to be a new adaptation of the Anne books and you could have any part in making the movie, what would you choose to do? (screenwriting, acting, casting, costume-making are a few possibilities)

costume making or acting

7. What are, in your opinion, the funniest AGG book/movie scenes? (choose one from the books and one from the movies)

please, must I chose one? well, in the book: I loved the "Unfortunate Lily Maid" and the "Anne's Apology" and "A New Departure in Flavorings". In the movie: the "slate" scene!!

8. What are, in your opinion, the saddest AGG book/movie scenes? (choose one of each again) 

//doesn't Anne look so lovely here?
I think it is one of my favorite pictures of her//

in the movie: Matthew's death, or the scene with Anne and Gil in the field after the funeral.

in the book: in Anne of the Island, second to last chapter when Gil almost died, and the night Anne realized she loved him. It always makes me cry. 

"Long after Pacifique's gay whistle had faded into the phantom of music and then into silence far up under the maples of Lover's Lane, Anne stood under the willows, tasting the poignant sweetness of life when some great dread has been removed from it. The morning was a cup filled with mist and glamour. In the corner near her was a rich surprise of new-blown crystal-dewed roses. The trills and trickles of song from the birds in the big tress above her seemed in perfect accord with her mood. A sentence from a very old, very true, very wonderful Book came to her lips. 

'Weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning." 

(I must admit I did add the italics in the very's, Emily would have!! If you have read the Emily books you know what I mean. ::wink::)

9. Which AGG character would you most like to spend an afternoon with? (again, Anne and Gilbert and Diana are not options for this one--think secondary characters)

Probably Philippa Gordon from Anne of the Island, or Ruby Gillis

10.  What is your definition of a kindred spirit?

A kindred spirit is someone who understands what you are feeling without you saying the words. It is a mutual understanding. A kindred spirit is a faithful friend,l one who will laugh and cry with you.

{all photos via google images or here}

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Have you ever read the Anne books?

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p.s. Samantha is holding a huge birthday bash at her blog >here<, but hurry it is almost finished! And Hannah Rose is holding a giveaway for a dvd at her blog >here<. And Eve is holding a giveaway for her blog anniversary >here<. There that should keep you busy for a while! :)

Jane Austen Literary Garden Party//introduction

today, I'm linking up to a blog party Miss Grace is hosting. Do come on over and join.

{one} let us start by your telling a little bit about your own self. tell us a bit of your personality. perhaps, tell a bit of your interests and pastime. 

via

my name is Marcia, and I'm an almost (9 more days) 14 year old girl. I gave my life to Christ in May of 2011, and am striving to know HIM more everyday. I'm home schooled and in 9th grade. I love anything and everything vintage, and whimsical. I'm an avid reader and photographer.  I love tea and coffee, and Anne of Green Gables is my favorite book series.  

{two} what literary character {whether it be in a film or book} would you say, most describes your personality and mannerisms? 

oh, dear. I would like to say I'm Anne of Green Gables, but I'm not quite that passionate nor imaginative. I would say I'm most likely Jane Bennett (Pride and Prejudice)

{three} what would you describe as the most lovely place to live in 1700's England? a cottage surrounded by woods or a mansion perhaps, to the same resemblance as Pemberley in Miss Austen's Pride and Prejudice.    

both please! but I must say, I do favor Pemberley. 

via

{four} list some of your favorite and least favorite literary works you have read. 

oh, let me see. 

Pride and Prejudice

 Anne of Green Gables series

Little Women

The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe

An Old-Fashioned Girl

Least:

I have attempted to read some of Charles Dickens works (Oliver Twist)

and I must say I couldn't even finish it. I did read an adapted version of Great Expectations which was okay, but not my favorite

{five} what would you describe as a most admirable heroine? 

she would have a servant heart and be kind and and passionate, and feminine. She would be well accomplished, but still humble.

{six} if you could spend afternoon tea in the company of your favorite literary heroine, to whom would you spend it with? 

Anne of Green Gables, most defiantly!

{seven} which is to your liking more :: tea or coffee?

oh.. I do so love coffee, but I do love tea. 

I would probably say a cup of hot mint tea or chai tea would be most to my liking.

{eight} which of Jane Austen's couples are your more fond of? 

Mr. Knightly and Emma Woodhouse, hands down.

via

{nine} what is one {a few} of your favorite literary quotes?  

“Perhaps, after all, romance did not come into one’s life with pomp and blare, like a gay knight riding down; perhaps it crept to one’s side like an old friend through quiet ways; perhaps it revealed itself in seeming prose, until some sudden shaft of illumination flung athwart its pages betrayed the rhythm and the music; perhaps . . . perhaps . . . love unfolded naturally out of a beautiful friendship, as a golden-hearted rose slipping from its green sheath.” 
― Anne Shirley

“but for my own part, if a book is well written, I always find it too short.” 
― Jane Austen

“Stupid men are the only ones worth knowing after all.” 

― Jane Austen 

(isn't that just hilarious? I'm positive that Jane Austen was a genious ;)

"I cannot make speeches, Emma...if I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more."

-Mr. Knightly

“I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens, but just those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls slipping off a string.” 
― Anne Shirley

“I don't want sunbursts or marble halls, I just want you.” 
―  Anne Shirley

 {ten} are you fond of dancing or singing or reading a good book? 

I've never been dancing, but I imagine I would like it. But of the three, I would say a good book. ;)

{eleven} and lastly, as this event is also hosted in celebration of my garden's second anniversary, would you mind explaining perhaps, how you stumbled upon my little plot of earth? 

I do believe I had heard of it somewhere, and someone left me a comment when I had first started that I had some of the same music that you have, so I decided to go find out who this "Grace's Garden Walk" was, and well, I discovered one of my favorite blogs! 

my new look

hey everyone,

I'm sure you have noticed my new design by now! isn't it gorgeous? ashlyn (creatively you) did such a beautiful job. well, let's take a little tour around!

• first of all I have an accordian sidebar, with my pages
• i now have gorgeous buttons for you to take and share the love
• and i have a guestbook,and I would be honored if you would sign it!

oh, i'm so happy with it.

also I have a surprise I'm working on for you guys! yay!
a huge welcome to my new followers (39 !!) thanks for joining me on this adventure.

and today is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day...
here are a couple facts about slavery today:

• there are 27 millon slaves today
• every minute there are 2 children sold into slavery
• currently there is 200,000 people in slavery in the US
• there are more slaves today than any other time in history

and we are just standing around passing the time of day! 

I say DO SOMETHING

Grace Anna had a really good post on this!

p.s. an adorable giveaway are going on over at Grace's Place.