We Challenge You!

We want to challenge you! 

Choose a topic(s) below, write about it and leave a link to your post here. Want more info about the Blog Challenge? Go HERE. Are you interested in co-hosting? Email Mrs K: iammrskblog@gmail.com

With love,

Mrs K (i am Mrs K) & Paige ( Moments for the journey)

An InLinkz Link-up

Day 3 and Happy Thoughts

Today:

Tilli took a bath
Housing cooperative meeting
The fight against ticks begins. Summer is coming!

It's been a great day. One of my favorite bloggers shared amazing news on her blog. HERE you can find out what. It's funny, I've never  even met this wonderful lady, but still her news made me happy. Spring is definitely time of new beginnings. 

Also, a huge thank you to all of you who have posted a link to this months Blog Challenge link-up! Find it HERE.

This week...

Day 2

Today:

Garden dreams
No luck with a scratcher.

Day 1

I was challenged (on Facebook) to take and share a picture/pictures of my everyday. I decided to post them here too, so you can "spy" me and my life during the next 5 days.

Today:

Choir at church

Roses and teen ministry team meeting

Do you want to win this book? Click it!

Some Testosterone

I know nothing about rugby... but what happens before the game is pretty awesome (at least if New Zealand is playing). 

All Blacks (I learned it is the name of New Zealand's rugby team) perform a haka, which... 

"is a traditional ancestral war cry, dance or challenge from the Māori people of New Zealand. It is a posture dance performed by a group, with vigorous movements and stamping of the feet with rhythmically shouted accompaniment." (wikipedia)

Cool, huh?

Remember the giveaway!

Soul Keeping - review and giveaway

(I was asked to review this book and also given a chance to give a copy to one of my readers)

The soul is the key to our lives, binding our heart, our mind, and our spirit together---yet what is it, really? In Soul Keeping, John Ortberg takes a popular, story-filled approach to the subject of what our soul is and how we can care for it in a world which often forgets it exists in each one of us, waiting to be nurtured.

First of all,  I don't want to give away too much, because I believe this book needs to be read by you. If I would only tell you what it's about, you would miss something profound. 

What I liked about this book:

- I like Ortberg's style. He is a good writer. He explains things in simple and understandable way.

- It made me think. I have never really payed attention to things Soul Keeping deals with. 

- it was quick to read (only about 200 pages. I don't like long non-fiction books)

- I think the name was great

What I didn't like about this book:

- the cover. I love covers that are pretty and make me want to look at them with a delighted sigh. This cover is nothing special. 

What surprised me about this book:

- there weren't many bible verses. Sometimes I wondered if a certain thought was Ortberg's own or from the Bible.



I would recommend this book! It gives you new ideas and makes you see things in new ways. 

I would encourage you to question it, though. I'm not saying this is an unbiblical book. Instead, what I am saying is that, because Ortberg doesn't provide that many Bible verses to back up his thoughts, you should ponder them keeping in mind what the Bible says. 

And now.... The Giveaway!

Open worldwide. All entries will be verified, so please, no cheating. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Celebrating Easter

What a perfect way to celebrate Easter: brunch in a cute old restaurant.

 

       

My Lovely Sponsor

from Night Owl Venting. Check out her blog HERE.

Amazing April

Dear spring

I've missed you. Thank you for coming back into my life. You remind me of new beginnings, hope and joy. I love you.

With love,

M

Write what makes April and spring amazing: 

Photos:

1. Pink pastel flower by jinterwas. License: CC BY 4.0 (text added to the original photo)

2. Gentle by Bhumika Bhatia. License:  CC BY 4.0 (text added to original to the original photo)

Cheap, cheap, cheap!

Dear bloggers, Etsy shop owners, etc, 

If you want to have your ad on my blog, you can with just 1 dollar! Right now the ad size is 175x175 BUT from May 14 it will be:

What you'll get?

1. Your ad on my sidebar

2. I'll introduce you to my readers in My Lovely Sponsor post (IF YOU WANT TO)

3. A Discount code (-50%), which can be used after July. 

Purchase your ad HERE.

New Blog Challenge Button

Hey all you lovelies! I ordered a new Blog Challenge button from Kingdom Advantrix (my sponsor). Grab one with you:

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Did you win?

Check out the winner of the book giveaway HERE! I'll contact the winner tomorrow. 

Don't worry if you didn't win; another book giveaway is on its way :)

Another thing, don't forget the Blog Challenge this month! Here are the topics and I challenge you! Also visit my lovely co-host Mary's blog:

An InLinkz Link-up

My Dog Loves to Sleep on Her Back

First Memory of Love

This is one of the Blog Challenge April topics. It's a hard one... I almost didn't want to write about it, but then I decided to challenge myself.

What is love? (Skip this part if you don't like long posts)

The Oxford English definition of love is: 

A feeling or disposition of deep affection or fondness for someone, typically arising from a recognition of attractive qualities, from natural affinity, or from sympathy and manifesting itself in concern for the other's welfare and pleasure in his or her presence.

The Greeks (you know the "toga dudes") thought that love has 4 aspects. C.S Lewis agreed. This post is all about those 4 love types or aspects.

Remembering first glimpses of love 

Storge - Affection: (this aspect of love can be seen in families and friendships.) 

Me & big sis

I am a family girl. This means that one of the most important thing in my life is my family. A funny thing is, we all live in different  countries, but still we are a tight family. It has nothing to do with meeting and talking in person. Instead, there's a bond that lasts despite the distance.

My first memory of storge love... I showed my affection by running to my mom or dad and sitting on their laps. 

Philia - Friendship: (something we choose and can be seen in friendships)

Friendships have always been a challenge to me, because of my Third Culture Kids past. I have often left friends behind as I moved back and forth. 

But... my first memory of philia love is the friendship I had with my first best friend. We were 2 little ladies, a blonde and a brunette. We lived in Thailand and were inseparable. We played, shared and ... oh the shenanigans!

Eros - Romance: (emotional and sexual love)

I've experienced eros love with only one person: my husband. We met when I moved to Joensuu (our current hometown). 

We had dated couple months and we were watching a movie. We were on his couch and I was lying there with my head on his lap. I remember how a strong and overwhelming feeling washed over me. I was so happy and in love. That is my fist memory of romance.

Agape - unconditional love

God's love is agape love. Unconditional, powerful... perfect. 

I grew up in a Christian family and I've always believed in God. But I didn't quite understand his love (I don't think I ever fully will; it's so mind-blowing.) 

My first memory of agape love is when I was a little girl in Thailand. Thailand is a country where most people mix Buddhism and animism together. Things you hear and see (especially if you are a little child) can be scary. I remember, one night I was really scared because of my imagination and all the things I've heard while eavesdropping adults. I prayed, because I had learned that we can always pray and ask God to help us. God answered. It was like he was holding me in his arms and whispering: "I'm here. You're safe." 

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Part 2

I promised you "after" pics. Well, here you are:

I wanted it to be warm and down-to-earth... the opposite of what it used to be. I had a small cottage in my mind. That's why I chose wood panels. 

We also got storage space because of that Ikea cabinet. The counter top is from Ikea too. I just waxed it because the color was not perfect.

It's still not completely finished. Accessories need to be added. I'm not sure which accent color to choose: purple or turquoise. 

By the way, it's really hard to take pics in a small space without much day light. 

Half Bathroom Renovation Part 1

I love our new downstairs half bathroom. It used to be U.G.L.Y 

Awful mint green plastic carpet... GONE!

Old stained sink... GONE!

Old, nightmare-like toilet seat... GONE! 

Etc. etc. etc... GONE!

I don't have proper "before" photos but I have "after" ones (or ALMOST after... finishing touches still need to be done).

Part 2? Come back tomorrow.

Have you seen our kitchen renovation photos:

Kitchen Evolution
Kitchen Evolution Part 2

A Beautiful Woman

Couple days ago I posted about my "photo problem".  My friend doesn't have that problem. She is stunning in photos (and in real life). 

Click THIS to see what I mean. How come some people are so beautiful?

Her pics made me think about The Loveliest Girl in The World book. Have you heard about it?

"The Loveliest Girl in the World is a community art project undertaken by photographer, art and social educator Miina Savolainen with ten girls from Hyvönen Children's Home. It has taken almost a decade to complete. 

The project is based on the idea of “empowerment” and the belief that everyone has the right to feel unique and special. 

The fairytale quality of the photographs reveals a truth often obscured by the rough and tumble of daily life - the person each young girl feels she really is inside. It allows the girls to regard themselves as strong and undamaged people. 

These photographs are deeply authentic, revealing the universal desire to be seen as good and valuable."

I burrowed this pic HERE.

Read more about The Loveliest Girl in The World HERE. 

11

In January I was nominated for a Liebster Award HERE. I got to ask my own nominees 11 questions. And now I get to answer them myself.

1. What would be your soundtrack for a relaxing evening at home?

This is a tough one... Probably Mozella. I loooove her smooth voice.

2. A book that still lingers in your mind.

A book that never stops touching me is my childhood favorite An Old-Fashioned girl by Louisa May Alcott. I love the innocence.

3. A human being should always...

have hope.

4. What is your dream travel destination?

Oh! Oh! I love this question! South Africa and Panama.

5. How do you define friendship?

A relationship filled with sharing, caring, fun and accepting.

6. What is your favorite museum?

Pretty much any museum in Berlin. 

7. What is your favorite ice cream flavor?

Vanilla. Plain and simple. These are awesome too:

8. Have you overcome a fear?

My greatest fear is snakes. I'll never overcome it. Period. But I have overcome one fear. I'm not afraid to sing/speak in front of people anymore.

9. If you could create your own perfume, what scent(s) would it contain?

Vanilla and apple. 

10. How did you decide your blog's name?

I don't remember... I am currently not that excited about it. I'd like to change it but I'm not sure if that's a good idea or not. I'd like to hear your thoughts if you have changed your blog's name.

11. If they would make a movie about your life, who would play you?

A mix of Anne Hathaway, Jennifer Lawrence and Alexis Bledel.

If you'd like to write a similar post OR if you've already done one, I'd love to read it! Leave a link below:

An InLinkz Link-up