Yes, I am thrilled to say that I’m back in the blogging world! You can now expect to hear from me on a weekly basis. 

I was nominated for the “Sunshine Blogger Award” by Aletheianna Mercy, Autumn Rebecca, Iona, and Autumn Grace. Thank you so much, girls!

This post is basically a massive Q & A, since I’m answering 43 questions! Feel free to scroll through and just read what jumps out at you, or read from start to finish and learn 43 new things about me!

What is the Sunshine Blogger Award?

The SBA is something that bloggers give to other bloggers who are sharing encouraging, positive content. 

These are the rules: 

1. Display the award’s official logo somewhere on your blog
2. Thank the person who nominated you 
3. Provide a link to your nominator’s blog
4. Answer your nominator’s questions
5. Nominate 11 bloggers
6. Ask your nominees 11 questions of your own
7. Notify the nominees by commenting on at least one of their blog posts 

Alrighty, let’s do this! (:

Aletheianna’s questions: 

1. What is your favorite nonfiction book and why?

My answer to this one is Forgive Your Enemies by Geoff and Janet Benge. This is the true testimony of Jacob Deshazer, a man who was taken captive by the Japanese during WW2. He was born again while in prison, then after the war ended and he was released, he returned to Japan as a missionary. Even though this is a middle grade book and I didn’t love the writing style, it had me in tears and holds such a special place in my heart. The power of God & closeness of the Holy Spirit to Jacob blew me away.

2. What is your favorite fiction book and why?

It’s so hard to pick, but one of my favorites is probably Sir Quinlan and the Knights of Valor by Chuck Black. This book is action packed and full of twists & turns, although what I really love about it is the theme of rejecting apathy. That book—which I’ve read maybe 5 times?—always reminds me to never stay comfortable where I am, but to follow God wherever He is taking me. 

3. What inspires you to keep writing? 

Even when I don’t want to write, I’m inspired to keep going because I know that somebody needs to hear what I have to say. Not because I’m someone special, but because I am seeking God and believe that He has things to say through me. I have a testimony & a relationship with God, and anybody who has that, has words that need to be shared with others!

4. What are your favorite non-writery activities and why? 

I really enjoy learning other languages (currently I’m learning Arabic), bullet journaling, playing outside, hiking, graphic designing, family time, singing, dancing, blitz ball, and playing instruments. 

5. What inspired your blog? 

I wanted a place to connect with other disciples of Jesus and share encouragement & testimonies! Growing up, I started several blogs and would share on there from time to time, but I was so shy about it that I never told anyone. Still, the joy of writing and knowing that my mom was reading encouraged me to keep blogging. After becoming a serious writer in 2022, I started this blog and shared it with as many people as I could.

6. What advice would you give to anyone without context? 

Read the Bible with no preconceived biases. Take it at face value and believe it no matter what you see or feel!

7. What advice has personally guided and affected you in how you live your life? 

One of the most inspiring pieces of advice I’ve received—and been impacted by—was in a sermon by Dan Mohler. My takeaway was this: No matter what other people do to us, what our circumstances look like, or what we’re going through, we have no right to be offended. If anyone had the right to that, it was Jesus. God in flesh was told He had a demon, lied about, betrayed, falsely accused, and then killed. Yet never once was He offended. So, no matter what is going on in our lives, we can love others without being offended. After all, we aren’t living for ourselves—we’ve been crucified with Christ!—we’re living for Jesus & advancing His kingdom no matter what. 

8. What is your favorite quote and why? 

Currently, my favorite is “Wherever you are, be all there.” It reminds me not to let my mind wander to the future or past, but to live in the moment. I think that’s good for all of us. (:

9. Do you prefer tea or coffee? 

I would say that it depends on my mood. I like iced coffee on a hot, sunny day, but iced tea really hits the spot sometimes. If I had to pick, I’d say coffee. (But for the record, I love hot cocoa and fresh lemonade. 😂)

10. What things must you have before writing?

Typically when I’m writing, I have water, my Bible, bluelight glasses, paper, & pencil on hand. Sometimes I also have snacks and some music going. 

Autumn Rebecca’s questions: 

1. What is your favorite season of the year? Why? 

My favorite season is spring. After being cooped up all winter, I love getting outside barefoot and in shorts! It’s an amazing feeling. 😍 Close second, however, would have to be fall. After a full, hot summer, being able to pull out sweaters and smell cinnamon & pumpkin everywhere is so satisfying! 

2. Who is your role model? 

Because Jesus is just a given, I’d say my mom. She is selfless, loving, hard-working, a wonderful mom, wife, and Grandma. Her love for Jesus is rare & her faith is strong. She always points me back to the simplicity of following Jesus wholeheartedly and I look up to her greatly. 💜

3. What time of day do you write the most words?

I’m still getting back into the swing of things with writing, so the time of day I write varies greatly. Typically, I’d say probably the afternoon/evening, since it’s bright enough that I can go outside and write, but late enough that there’s usually not a lot going on.  

4. What is your favorite topic to write about? Why do you feel it’s important to share?

That is a great question! I would have to say that it’s the love of God. I think it’s so important to talk about because many people get trapped in “religion,” where they feel like God is distant and they know Him as a punisher rather than a very close, loving father. A close second, however, would be the importance of having a personal, intimate relationship with God rather than a religious attitude with a wrong view of God’s character. So really, these two topics tie into each other and the chances are, if I’m talking about one, I’m also talking about the other. Let’s truly get to know God!

5. Iced tea or a steaming mug of tea? 

As I mentioned earlier, I usually prefer things iced! So definitely iced tea. (Plus, hot tea usually makes me think of having a sore throat.)

6. Are you a gaming addict? What is your favorite console (Wii, Xbox, PlayStation, the Switch, etc.)?

I actually don’t play videogames, but I used to play Mario Kart and that was an absolute blast. 😂 So Wii, I guess. 

7. What is a fact about you that others might find strange? 

I am a firm believer that massive amounts of feta and/or parmesan cheese belong on all foods that are not desserts or cereal. I’ve had it said of me, “Cheese is to Leah what air is to everyone else.” 🤣🧀 

8. Which household duty is your least favorite (making your bed, washing dishes, etc.)? 

This may sound rather elementary, but making my bed is my least favorite duty of them all. The reason is, I live in a skoolie and my bedroom is literally just a room with a bed in it. Because it’s so small, it’s a bit of a hassle to make my bed without hitting my head on the wooden beam of my ceiling—which I’ve done so many times. 🥴

(shoutout to ArtByBellaRaine for that gorgeous mini fluid acrylic painting in the corner of my bunk!)

9. Do you have a nickname? Do you like it or no? 

Different people call me different things—Leelee, Lela, Lescie, Lee, Leek, Kid. Even Leaf at one point in my life (shenanigans, I tell you.) I kind of like having nicknames. 🙃

10. When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up? 

I went through different phases as a kid. The biggest were: dressage rider, horse jumper, gymnast, teacher, and language translator. There were probably a bunch of other things for short bursts of time, but that’s what I remember. 

11. Best question for last: Which novel could you read over and over? 

Honestly, even though I love novels, I don’t read them a lot. It’s so hard to find ones that are completely clean, God-honoring, and encouraging. Rise of the Fallen by Chuck Black is a book that I’m currently rereading and I could read it soooo many more times! As it is, I’ve read it at least 5 times. I love the unique approach to spiritual warfare, the angels, and how God works through prayer. (I understand that a lot of the content and ideas are speculation, but I still find them interesting!)

Autumn Grace’s questions: 

1. What is your favorite TV show?

We don’t really watch TV as a family. However, I’ve watched Hometown (a home renovation show) with my grandparents and that’s fun! 

2. If you had to choose to live in one part of the world for the rest of your life, where would it be? 

Of all the cruel questions…. Because I travel the US with my family & dream of being a missionary overseas, the thought of permanently staying in one place kind of stinks. 😂 If I had to pick though, I’d say the Middle East. I’m not learning Hebrew and Arabic for nothing!

3. Would you rather visit the Mariana Trench, or the moon?

Oooh… probably the moon! Who knows what sort of creatures I’d stumble across in the Mariana Trench. 🥴

4. If you had to choose between books and writing for the rest of your life, which would it be? 

Definitely writing! Even though I really enjoy reading, I don’t do it that often because it’s so hard to find books that are clean & edifying. I find a lot of satisfaction in writing and believe that it’s something God wants me to do. 

5. What is your favorite book of the Bible? 

Probably 1 Timothy! That book is jam-packed full of encouragement, affirmations, & teaching. It’s especially cool because it was written to a young person, just like me.

6. What was/is your favorite topic in school? 

Definitely foreign languages & writing! I know that’s two but I couldn’t help myself. I took a year of Spanish, two years of Russian, and am finishing up my second year of Biblical Hebrew/modern Hebrew and I love it. I also enjoyed writing novels, blog posts, and everything else you can imagine for my writing classes!

7. If you could go back to one famous time in history (The Revolutionary War, Beethoevn’s Ninth Symphony Opening Night, etc.) what would it be? 

The day of Pentecost & the growth of the church over the following years! I want to see what the early church looked like so that I can live it out here and now. God’s plan of salvation and the role of the Holy Spirit has not changed one iota from the book of Acts, so let’s get back to the Biblical description of the Church and live like it!

8. What is your favorite animal? 

I’ve got to say horses! A veeerry close second, however, are mini donkeys. We had an Arabian horse and miniature donkey on our farm before we moved & rehomed them. This is Keeper (the donkey), and the horse is Cricket, looking very much like a giraffe here! 😂 Don’t mind the innocent little chickens in the background. They’re also up there with my favorites. I mean, could they get any cuter???

9. Are you an early bird or a night owl?

That really depends. When we stayed with my grandparents for a few months, I rocked the night owl thing! We would stay up late playing games and hanging out. 🤪 Typically, though, I’d say that I’m an early bird. I love getting a peaceful, slow start to my days. (: 

10. What is in your dream room?

In my dream room, I would have a built-in shelf around my bed that has pictures, books, plants, and other little trinkets in it. There would be a cozy nook in the corner of my room with comfortable seating, an accent rug, throw blankets & pillows, and plants. Against one of the walls, there would be a functional desk for writing and other online work. I made a Pinterest board with the aesthetic of my dream bedroom and you can find that here! 

11. Rather similar to question #7, what is one past famous person that you would like to meet? 

The apostle Paul!!! First of all, that would just be so cool, but secondly, I’d have a ton of questions for him. 🤣

Iona’s questions: 

1. What is your favourite niche/micro life-lesson you have learned? 

This goes back to my favorite quote: “Wherever you are, be all there.” Everything is so much fuller, richer, and satisfying when you live in the moment. If you’re constantly imagining a different reality, thinking about the future, or living in the past, then you’ll miss all of the precious memories & moments that God has for you here and now. 

2. What is one of your favourite attributes of the nature of God?

One of my favorite things about God is that He is always so close and He never leaves me. I used to struggle so much with loneliness, but now, the Holy Spirit reminds me that I am never alone and He is always with me. His company is better than that of any person! 

3. What is a book that you love that isn’t popular at all? Explain why you still love it! 

Hmm… is it bad to choose my own book? Haha! I self-published Rodney the Rooster as a story that my nieces & nephews could enjoy. I didn’t market the book and the front cover didn’t come out exactly the way I wanted it, but regardless of those things I still love the story. Rodney the Rooster is a retelling of my dad’s bedtime stories, which makes it even more near & dear to my heart. This novella is about a misfit chicken who is trying to find where he belongs while making friends and surviving the hawks. You can click here to read a free sample of it online!

4. What is your least popular value/standard in reading? 

This one is easy: I don’t read books with magic. In real life, there are only two places where supernatural power can come from: either God or the devil. Because magic actually is real—it is completely demonic—I am not comfortable reading books that highlight magic as being good or even as being okay. If you have any questions about my opinion or would like to chat about this, you can comment about it or message me here!

5. If you could have witnessed one of Jesus’s miracles while He walked on earth, which one would it be and why?

This is such a hard one! All of the things He did are amazing! If I had to pick one though, I would say Lazarus being raised from the dead. I wish I could have seen the complete despair turn into joy & new life! Also, to see Jesus weep, to hear Him reassure Martha & Mary of God’s power and resurrection, and to witness the unrivaled power of God just sounds incredible. 

6. Hardcover or paperback? (And which STYLE of either? eg. dustcover no, etc?)

I usually buy paperback since they’re less expensive, but I think hardcover is much nicer and more durable! And I’m not a huge fan of dustcovers. Let’s not overthink things and just keep it simple. 😄

7. What is something you would LOVE to see more of in Christian books but have yet to? 

An emphasis on the Holy Spirit teaching people & guiding them into all truth (1 John 2:27, John 16:13). Yes, God oftentimes uses people to help us learn and grow, but the Holy Spirit is the best teacher, mentor, and leader out there. Let’s see HIM at work in the main characters!

8. Tell about a time when God used a book’s theme, character, or story to touch/speak to you specifically. 

I love the Viking Quest Series by Lois Walfrid Johnson. The main theme of this series is forgiveness, as the main character must choose to forgive the ones who have hurt her & her family. After reading this series for the third time or so (if I really like a book, I’ll reread it several times 😂) I began to feel convicted. God helped me to see areas in my life where I wasn’t walking in complete forgiveness, so I repented & made it right. Now, more than ever, this series has a special place in my heart. 💖

9. Which book would you love to be a part of making into a film? What role would you want? (actor, writer, composer…)

I would probably say Rise of the Fallen by Chuck Black! I love the whole series and feel like Chuck approaches the topic of spiritual warfare very cautiously & from a Biblical perspective. I’d love to be an actress in it and play the role of Tamaral. (:

10. What does your perfect reading haven look like?

A comfy spot on the couch with a blanket, some water, a snack, and ample lighting. I can get totally into a book regardless of where I am. 😂

11. What’s a childhood classic you can still read with just as much enjoyment as when you were a kid?

The Viking Quest Series by Lois Walfrid Johnson is one of my all-time favorites! (Yes, I’m mentioning these books again!) The plot is interesting, compelling, and full of plot twists. The characters are unique & relatable, and the theme of forgiveness, love, and sacrifice is so powerful! Just talking about them makes me want to reread them now. 🥹 

I had so much fun answering those questions! Again, thank you to the girls who nominated me for the Sunshine Blogger Award. 💖 

I’m nominating… 

1. Bella Raine – bellaraine.com 
2. Pearl Christine – pearlchristine.com 
3. Laura Ann – fearlesslane.com 
4. Molly McTernan – mollymcternan.com 
5. Anyone else who wants to do a Sunshine Blogger post! If you have a blog & would like to have a go at it, consider yourself nominated. 😄

Some of you have already done this & there’s totally no pressure for anyone, but if nothing else it’s a shoutout! (:

My questions: 

1. What is your favorite topic to write about? 
2. When did you start blogging & why? 
3. What is your least favorite food? 
4. Do you predominantly write fiction or nonfiction?
5. Do you have a current writing project? What is it about? 
6. How many siblings do you have (if any)? 
7. Are you a homebody or do you enjoy traveling/the idea of traveling? 
8. Do you speak any foreign languages? 
9. What is your favorite activity to do to unwind? 
10. Do you prefer to be outside or inside? 
11. What is a Scripture you would share with anybody at any given moment? 

This post has been so much fun to do! Every Monday I’ll be putting out new content, and if you’d like to be notified every time I do, you can sign up for my email list right here!