Friday, February 22, 2013

Character Encounters: To Kendra's Party!


This month we have been ordered by the lovely Kendra to meet our characters at a birthday party! Click here to join in the fun!


"I knew it was a horrible idea from the start. I knew that we never should have attempted this."

Her stinging voice nags me, scraping my ear painfully. I force as much annoyance and frustration into a single glance as I can and throw it at her. 

"Sims, you've been saying that for the last hour."

The blonde princess straightens on her horse with a disdainful sniff. "Do not dare to call me that. My proper name is Princess Simeanna, daughter of the beloved King Jakken Fierté, princess and heir to the kingdom of Findenland."

Very few people in this world hold the title of being a person who irritates me. Really irritates me. Simeanna is one of them, even though she's only one of my characters. I know too much about her to hate her, and yet, at the moment, the gritty, churning feeling in my heart can only be hate. I know that I will only spout out something nasty if I speak, so I struggle to hold my tongue and put my focus onto the chestnut neck of the mare bobbing up and down before me. 

I'll never know how Simeanna convinced me to go to Kendra's birthday party on horseback. I suppose when she showed up and carelessly threw the idea at me when I mentioned I wished to go to the party, it had seemed a great diversion. But now, after two hours in the saddle, my legs feel like jelly and I want to be done.

"Have you consulted your map recently?" Simeanna asks crisply. "I believe that if you trusted the reliable parchment as your guide, we wouldn't be here. We could have been to the party by now, had you not insisted that you were capable of finding you way on your own."

With a sigh, I pull a folded, wrinkled, papery mess out of my pocket and smooth it carefully on my lap. "This might be easier if I actually knew where we were."

Simeanna clears her throat. "I spy a road sign there. I am certain that you could use the name upon it to discover our whereabouts."

My eyes at once seek the sign and see the name Ardnek Ave. I smile, for I know exactly where we are.

"You know, Sims," I say with a smile, "you're not as bad as everyone imagines you to be."

She releases an exasperated, yet ladylike, sigh. "You are as vulgar as Nattalaris. You and she both will insist on giving people short and friendly names rather than their intended ones."

"And what's wrong with that?"

"I only mean that I would prefer to be called by my true name."

I cast a sly glance in her direction. "I happen to know that one day you might enjoy being called Sims, or even Anna."

Simeanna flinches, but I can tell she is forcing herself to remain calm. "Well, I suppose Anna is not so terrible as Sims, though I do wish you would deter Nattalaris from using both on me. She has such a forward and unladylike way with words."

At this point, I'm not exactly sure what to say to her, so again, I keep my mouth shut.

"Oh, do not be a bore, Kiri Liz." Simeanna  says suddenly. "Even though you are my creator, I confess that we as your characters know much more about you than you realize. I know I irritate you, but deep down, you truly do enjoy my company. You think me a beautiful, yet mysterious, princess and my story is one that intrigues you like no other story."

I can't help the smile that spreads across my face. "You are correct on that account, Sims. You are indeed a puzzle. A beautiful, mysterious, annoying, friendly puzzle."

She seems unsure at what to do under the grinning gaze I give her. "Well... do you not think that we should be on our way again? Have you ascertained our location on your map?"

"As a matter of fact, I have." I dig my heels into my horse's sides and urge her forward. "Kendra's house is..." I turn the corner and gesture ahead for my companion. "... right there."

As I speak, a girl with a sparkling tiara woven into her lovely hair steps out of the front door. She holds half a dozen birthday cards in one hand, while fingering the fine linen of her pink party dress with the other. When she sees Simeanna and I in the road before her house, she grins. "Kiri Liz? Is that you?"

I swing out of the saddle and manage an almost graceful dismount. Kendra is beside me before both of my feet can fully touch the earth, and I am treated to a giant hug. 

"I'm so glad you could make it!" She exclaims.

"I'm glad I finally found my way over here!" I return cheerfully. "Kendra, I'd like you to meet..." I turn to Simeanna, but she and her ebony steed are gone. 

"Meet who?" Kendra tries to look around me, as if I were hiding someone behind me.

I am usually disappointed when one of my characters disappears after such a short meeting, but Simeanna going is truly depressing. 

"I'm sorry," I tell Kendra. "One of my princesses, Simeanna by name, accompanied me here today, but I'm afraid she's gone now."

Kendra squeezes my arm. "Well, that's okay. They always do leave at the most inopportune times, don't they? What's that?"

I whirl, expecting something to be approaching behind me, but see nothing. It is not until my gaze falls to the street that I spot what has attracted Kendra's notice. A small package, done up in exquisite blue ribbon lies where Simeanna's horse was only minutes ago. I pick it up and see For Kendra written on the small tag attached to the ribbon. 

"I suppose she left you a gift." I hand the package over to Kendra.

Kendra opens it carefully. As the wrapping falls away, a small, embroidered pillow lays in her hands. The colorful threads decorating the cover depict various scenes from fantasies; swords and flowers alike create the borders, and in the middle rests Kendra's name in a lovely script.

"It's beautiful." Kendra breathes.

I furrow my brow as my eyes catch something in the corner, something small, hidden in the border almost as to hinder anyone from seeing it. 

Love, Sims

I grin. "She's a puzzle, all right."

God bless!

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Ags And Tawards... I Mean, Tags And Awards

I have become most lackadaisical concerning awards and tags on this blog, and I do apologize. Life has kept me from blogging, so I never found the chance to post about these things. *ahem* I shall endeavor to do better. 


I was awarded the Scrumptious Blog Award by Storyteller! Thanks, Storyteller!

~ Rules ~
1: When you receive the award you must post about it on your blog and leave a link to my blog.

2: Answer all the questions to the tag below.

3: Do not award anyone who has more than one hundred followers.

4: Come up with ten questions for the tag.

5: Keep your questions clean and refrain from using bad language.

6: Tag 5 to 10 people.



~ Storyteller's Questions ~
1) Blogger or wordpress? (if you're reading this, probably blogger. But you never know.)
Blogger.

2) Are you/were you excited to drive? (cars) Why or why not?
I don't drive. Not yet, anyways. I'm just one of those girls who doesn't care much for cars.

3) What is your most deadly fear?
Being a bad testimony for Christ.

4) What's a funny moment that's happened to you recently?
Me: (engrossed in writing this blog post that I am totally unaware of what's going on around me)
Music playing on my laptop as I work: Knightsbridge March from London Suite
My sister Jessa Bri: (bouncing around the living room, balancing a pile of laundry in her arms and performing outlandish clown acts)
Me: (still buried in my laptop)
Jessa: (looks at me to see if I noticed her)
Me: (lost in the world of blogger)
Jessa: (stares at me longer)
Me: (totally oblivious)
Jessa: Age is wasted on the old.
Just a moment in the life I lead here under the maple tree.

5) What is your favorite of my stories?
I really enjoyed reading the chapters Storyteller posted from The Thief's Quest.

6) Who is your favorite character of my stories?
Hmm... Jessie Bender

7) What would make the most epic book ever? (details such as (ahem this is kind of mine) the main character is a girl, somehow there's a dreamcatcher and a blue moon involved, and she has a bag full of cool stuff like old books, old maps, a compass, etc. and owns a cloak. Kind of get the idea?)
A group of siblings on an epic adventure, legendary creatures such as dragons, lots of humor and adventure, quotable quotes, journeys through different types of terrains, epic battles and sword play... and no, I'm not deliberately trying to describe my story CoaL... but it's all just stuff that I love that happened to find its way into CoaL.

8) What's your least favorite question of mine so far?
So far? Probably the one about the recent funny moment. I can't think of one! I know that when you all read this, I'll have filled it out, but as of right now, as I'm writing this, I haven't answered that question yet. My life is filled with humorous things, and it's an instant mind blank whenever anyone asks me for a specific moment. 

9) Why did you (if you do) decide to follow my blog?
Because you're fun and you love writing! :)

10) What has been your favorite blog design you have ever seen? (perhaps give a link)
I love seeing the different period drama themes that Miss Laurie uses over at Old-Fashioned Charm; I also love the simpleness of The Inkpen Authoress, Life of a Michigan Homeschooler, and a bunch of other blogs.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Una Mariah tagged me in the Elvensies Tag! Thank you, Una Mariah!

~ Rules ~
Post eleven random facts about yourself, answer the eleven questions the awarder has given you and make up eleven questions for your awardees to answer in return. Tag eleven fellow bloggers, and notify them of the award. Also, they say there are no tag-backs in this game, but I’m breaking that rule. They also say the eleven blogs you tag must have less than 200 followers. But I say if your blog has more than 200 followers, good for you! You will not be shunned. Feel free to participate! 

~ My Eleven Facts ~
1. I like folding clothes. There's just something about making crisp corners and straight piles that I enjoy.
2. I don't care much for scented candles. The smell and smoke from them makes me tight.
3. I have come to the firm belief that I am allergic to my bed, after waking up the last two weeks with watery eyes, asthma, headaches, etc. 
4. I don't suppose the fact that my mattress is 15 years old helps much.
5. I am anticipating mattress/sheet/pillow/whatever shopping sometime in the next month or so, with the hopes to improve my health.
6. Some of my favorite characters in movies and books are the ones that most people find irritating or annoying. For example, Mr. Woodhouse and Miss Bates from Emma, Mrs. Bennet from P&P, Mr. Guppy from Bleak House, and Squire Hamley from Wives and Daughters.
7. What does bother me? Suddenly all the "majestic" pictures of Thorin Oakenshield on Pinterest. Sure, I think it's funny that he's majestic, and nobody expected that from a dwarf, and it's fun to see some of the pics, but I think some people are going a little too far with this. By the way, they all know Thorin dies at the end of The Hobbit, right?
8. Due to a business meeting shared with my dad, a sudden plan for dinner, and my soy allergy, I got to spend last Friday night at my classy blood cousins' house. First time being there without any of my siblings for a meal, but we still had buckets of fun. *ahem* Don't tell my siblings that. :)
9. I currently am working three part-time jobs and just received an offer for a fourth. I realize that this is better than most people can boast, and I praise the Lord for His bountiful blessings!
10. I just allowed my sister Beth Grace to cut my hair. For me, this was a huge thing. I detest hair cuts, but I see the necessity of them. My hair previously hung down to my waist, and I told Beth she could take, at the most, 4 inches off. When I gathered the hair up off the floor later, every piece I measured was 6 inches long. No, I'm not mad at my sister, but I'm not going to let her forget about it. ;)
11. I really should be doing dishes right now, instead of working on this post. 'Scuze me for a moment... won't you?

 ~ Una Mariah's Questions ~
1. How long have you been writing?
I've been writing since I was 4, although at that time I couldn't write more than my name and three letter words. ;) At the age of 8, I began writing stories and poems, but it wasn't until I hit the great age of 15 that I seriously began writing stories.

2. Which do you find inspires you more: music or pictures?
It depends on what I need the inspiration for. If I'm trying to describe something while I'm writing, pictures always help (cue: Pinterest), but if I'm just writing, music is always the best way to keep inspired.

3. Do you find yourself writing from a guy's perspective more often than a girl's, or is it the other way around?
Probably mostly girl's, since I am one, but I have noticed that recently I've been tending more towards boys in some of my newer stories. CoaL is told from a boy's POV.

4. Do you prefer bands, singers, or soundtracks to listen to? Which is your favorite? (in whichever category you pick)
I really don't have any specific singers or bands that I like. I much prefer listening to classical and soundtrack while I write. HTTYD, Miss Potter, Narnia, Pirates, etc. are all excellent choices when I'm writing, although I've learned the hard way not to play songs that have words, otherwise I'll be singing instead of writing.

5. Which do you prefer to write in: notebooks or computers?
Both. Notebooks when I'm doing poetry, essays, or notes on stories. Computer when I'm actually writing stories.

6. Do you find yourself hoarding notebooks, even if you barely write in them?
YES! Although I write in most of mine.

7. Have you ever done something really random or weird in public?
Hmm... yes; not often, but I'm not scared of being called weird. What kind of weird? Does reenacting dance and song routines from The Happiest Millionaire in public count as weird? Then yes, I'm weird.

8. Do you keep folders of notebooks full of inspiring quotes or pictures?
Notebooks full of inspirational notes, yes. Quotes and pictures I find on Pinterest.

9. Do you occasionally pause in the middle of a sentence, and dash off to your writing space, overcome with a new idea? If so, do you yell 'YES!!!!' as you run?
Not often. Usually when a brilliant idea strikes me, I ponder it for a while before I write it down. You could say that I procrastinate with the hopes that the idea will get better.

10. What is your favorite song at the moment?
Cannot. Answer. This. Question. Why must you make it so difficult for me?? Music is my family's occupational hazard. It is nigh impossible for me to have a favorite song. *sigh* Okey dokey, I'll see if I can come up with a few favorites...
Here Am I, Lord (Ron Hamilton)
Building the Raft (Journey to the Center of the Earth)
Finale (P&P '95)
Meryton Hall (P&P '05)
Father Christmas (The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe)
His Grace is Greater (Herbster Evangelistic Team)
The Ring Goes South (The Fellowship of the Ring)
Forbidden Friendship (HTTYD)
The Medallion Calls (The Curse of the Black Pearl)
The Park (Miss Potter)
Throw the Coins (Sense and Sensibility)
No Way To Stop It (The Sound of Music: Broadway)
Ten Thousand Hallelujahs (SMS Mens Chorus)
Fortuosity (The Happiest Millionaire)
West of the Wide Missouri (The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band)
Go Ye Into All the World (Soundforth)
Higher Ground (Steve Pettit Evangelistic Team)
This is My Father's World (Steve Pettit Evangelistic Team)
Page 47 (National Treasure: Book of Secrets)
Foolish Questions (The Wilds Bunch)
Are You Ready? (The Wilds Chorale)
Oh, is that too many? Sorry... and I hadn't even gotten to the classical yet.

11. Is your hair brown? (okay, I ran out of ideas for questions. So sue me.)
Nope. I'm blonde.

Oh, boy... you could read that in more than one way. I'm talking hair color here, peoples! At least, I hope I'm talking about hair color.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


And I was also awarded the Scrumptious Blog Award by Jessa Bri! Thanks, sis! Rules for this award are posted above.
~ Jessa Bri's Questions ~
1. What is your favorite meal of the day? Second breakfast. Usually that's when my sister makes scrumptious pancakes after everybody else has eaten an earlier meal of plain, 'ole cereal. Unfortunately, we only get second breakfast once in a great while.

2. Which do you prefer, morning or night? Morning.

3. If you could learn a language that you do not already know, which language would it be? French! I've taken two years of French in school, but I'd love to speak it fluently.

4. Ice cream, cookies, or cake? Not fair! I love ice cream, I love gingerbread cookies, and I love carrot cake! So... all of the above? :D

5. Who is your favorite author? Too many... J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, Jane Austen, E. Nesbit, Charles Dickens, Louisa May Alcott, Chuck Black, Mark Twain, etc.

6. Would you rather be baking in the kitchen, reading a book up in a tree, riding a horse across meadows, or sipping tea and chatting with friends? Reading a book up in a tree ~ all the way!

7. What is your favorite spice? Probably cinnamon.

8. What is your favorite meat? Beef. Or bacon.

9. What is your least favorite vegetable? Brussel sprouts. And yes, I've had them so my distaste is well-founded.

10. Using the answers for questions 7-9, think up a dish that you could make out of those three ingredients. Jessa! A dish made out of cinnamon, beef, and brussel sprouts?! Some casserole that would make!

                                                                ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


And last, but not least, I was awarded the Brilliant Blog Bouquet Award by Violets and Daisies!

~ Award Rules ~

Put a link to who gave you the award
Post the award to your blog
Answer the questions
Choose 5 blogs to receive the award
Let them know you've awarded them

~ Blog Award Questions ~
1. If you could have a "flower pen name" like we have here on our blog, Violets and Daisies what would it be?
I've always liked the name Lily, but if I was choosing a name to refer to myself I would pick Kosteletzkya. And yes, that is a flower. Following is a picture of it. :)


A kosteletzkya.

2. What is your favourite ever Bible verse and why?
Psalm 56:11 is a favorite: "In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.

4. If you and your friends could visit any country in the world, where would you go?
I would probably go to Europe with my sisters. First, to England, second to France.

5. If you have one, feel free to share your testimony as to how you became a Christian.
Christ saved me. He loved me enough to die for me and save me from sin's punishment so that I could live forever with Him in glory. On my own, there was nothing I could do to attain eternal life. 
Specifically, I recall a day very near to Easter when I was about 6 years old. I was full of questions that night concerning Christ on the cross, why He died, and when my father came in to say goodnight, I wouldn't give him any peace until he had answered my questions. I prayed that night with him and vividly recall the joy and peace that swept over me. I was so excited and I had to tell the world that Christ loved me. As it was my bedtime, the world had to wait, and I contented myself with telling Mom and my grandparents who were visiting then for Easter. 
At that point in my life, I knew God loved me, I knew that Christ died, but I didn't know Him. Being a Christian is so much more than calling yourself a believer and going to church. It wasn't until years later that I finally realized that fact. It's about having a personal relationship with the One who saved me, loving and trusting Him with all that is within me, and giving up my life for Him just as He gave up His life for me. 


Okey dokey... the time has come for me to pass these fun awards onto other deserving bloggers!

I award:

And this is how I'm telling who's won what:

1. If your name is in the above list and you've never won the Scrumptious Blog Award, you just won it. Please take that award off to your blog and post about it. Congrats!

2. If you have already won the SBA and don't wish to post about it again, I trust you are here and reading this second point. You've won the Brilliant Blog Bouquet Award! Congratulations!

3. If, for some reason, you have won or don't want either awards, you may copy the Elevensies Tag to post on your blog. Or you may answer the questions in the comments below. I'd love to read your answers!

Please perform the necessary actions according to what I have awarded/tagged you. And don't just think since I'm not giving specifics here that you can opt out of getting the award or tag. I choose the names I choose with good reason. It is your duty to receive your designated award/tag.

Oh, and if anyone I didn't award/tag wants to answer questions in a comment, go right ahead! I'd love to read your answers as well! After all the trouble that goes into putting all the questions together, it's a grand relief to have more than one person answer them. 

~ Scrumptious Blog Award Questions ~
1. Do you like snow? If so, what is your favorite snowy activity?
2. What was your favorite toy when you were younger?
3. What is one food/beverage you could eat/drink every day and never grow tired of it?
4. What is one food/beverage you could very well live without?
5. Pick a number between 6 and 14.
6. Tell us a favorite memory that happened when you were that age.
7. When does one grow too old for dolls?
8. What is the best way to eat a potato?
9. Was there any book that you read which you began with great hopes and felt disappointed at the end, or read with little expectation and was pleasantly surprised? If so, which book?
10. Your opinion of Pinterest, please?

~ Elevensies Questions ~
Please answer the 10 questions above in the SBA as well as the following:
11. Give me a synopsis of what you would consider an epic story (if you're a writer, it's acceptable to tell us the synopsis for your own story).

~ Brilliant Blog Bouquet Award Questions ~
(For this award, it's the same questions that Violet and Daisy asked me. I'm just reposting the questions here to make copying easier for you all.)
1. If you could have a "flower pen name" like we have here on our blog, Violets and Daisies what would it be?
2. What is your favourite ever Bible verse and why?
3. What are the blogs which inspire you most?
4. If you and your friends could visit any country in the world, where would you go?
5. If you have one, feel free to share your testimony as to how you became a Christian.

God bless!

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Handsome, Clever, and Rich



Kellie over at Accordion to Kellie is hosting a Literary Heroine Blog Party & Giveaway! And as part of the festivities, she's asked us to fill out a few, fun questions. Enjoy!

1. Introduce yourself! Divulge your life's vision, likes, dislikes, aspirations, or something completely random! I am a 19 year old homeschool graduate with an immense passion for words and books. I love good music, fun times with my family, 1000 piece puzzles, and gingerbread. I cannot stomach tea nor coffee, and baking and I have never seen eye to eye. I'm glad I'm not from the lineage of Zacchaeus because I'm allergic to sycamore trees.

2. What, to you, forms the essence of a true heroine? A flawed character who is willing to learn from her mistakes and the advice of others, who looks out for the welfare of others rather than to her own interests, and who isn't lost in the romantic fluff and mush of the world (I don't mean she can't ever fall in love, rather that she has a true love and not what the world defines as love).

3. Share (up to) four heroines of literature that you most admire and relate to. Emma Woodhouse, Millie Keith, Amy Dorrit, and Beatrix Potter (even though she's not technically from literature).

4. Five of your favorite historical novels? Let's see if I can limit myself only to five of my many favorites... Emma, Pride and Prejudice, Nicholas Nickleby, Treasure Island, and Eight Cousins.



5. Out of those five books who is your favorite main character and why? Emma Woodhouse. She's not perfect like some annoying characters *coughNancyDrewcough* and she learns and grows throughout the book. And in the end, she ends up marrying her best friend. Hmm... I feel like I've said Emma is a favorite of mine many times on this blog. Is it just me?

6. Out of those five books who is your favorite secondary character and why? Too many good secondary characters... Mr. Bennet is a favorite because he has such funny lines: "I have not the pleasure of understanding you."


7. If you were to plan out your dream vacation, where would you travel to - and what would you plan to do there? I would probably go on a European tour with my family, that definitely included visiting and exploring old castles and manors.

8. What is your favorite time period and culture to read about? I would say medieval, but that's only because I love that sort of fantasy (i.e. LOTR). However, I do enjoy reading stories in the 1800s (i.e. Austen and Dickens), only because the dialogue from that time era is... well, very unlike the poor vernacular we use today.

9. You have been invited to perform at the local charity concert. Singing, comedy, recitation - what is your act comprised of? That's tough. If I was with my family, I'd say sing, but I do love to perform comedy.
10. If you were to attend a party where each guest was to portray a heroine of literature, who would you select to represent? Probably Emma Woodhouse. She's my favorite Austen heroine. I would pick Amy Dorrit, but sadly, I'm not dark-haired. 


11. What are your sentiments on the subject of chocolate? Like it, but sadly, I'm allergic to it. Please don't pity me. I survive well enough without it.

12. Favorite author(s)? J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Louisa May Alcott, E. Nesbit, Mark Twain, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Robert Louis Stevenson, Chuck Black, Amy Dashwood, and many more...

13. Besides essentials, what would you take on a visiting voyage to a foreign land? Books! Oh, wait... we're mentioning those things which are NOT essentials... right? ;)



14. In which century were most of the books you read written? Probably closer to the 1800s. I've been reading a lot of the classics lately.

15. In your opinion, the ultimate hero in literature is… Mr. Knightley or Faramir.

16. Describe your ideal dwelling place. Something conducive to my asthma, large enough to house my family, holding a secret passage, located in the country, big and historical, with a large and forested backyard (with perhaps a stream), and a great sledding hill... you know, all the important stuff.

17. Sum up your fashion style in a short sentence. Modest and feminine, but comfortable. Talk to my sisters and you will soon find out that I don't care tuppence for what's in fashion.

18. Have you ever wanted to change a character’s name? A few times... the name Fitzwilliam Darcy never sat well with me. I know why everyone in the book referred to him as "Mr. Darcy."

19. In your opinion, the most dastardly villain of all literature is... Hmmm... who to choose? Who to choose? I'd probably have to go with Rigaud from Little Dorrit. A more evil, murderous man never walked the written face of the literary world.


20. Three favorite Non-fiction books? The Holy Bible, My Philadelphia Father, and The Family Band.

21. Your duties met for the day, how would you choose to spend a carefree summer afternoon? Reading, writing, or biking.

22. Create a verbal sketch of your dream hat - in such a way as will best portray your true character. A navy blue New York Yankee ball cap. Yes, that is my dream hat... I'm not much for wearing any other kind of hat.

23. Share the most significant event(s) that have marked your life in the past year. Creating a blog has probably changed me more in the last year than any other single event. It has forced me to think harder, read deeper, and write seriously.

24. Share the Bible passage(s) that have been most inspiring to you recently. 












God bless!

Monday, February 11, 2013

Far Longer Than Forever

With Valentine's Day being just around the corner, my thoughts concerning music have been turned more or less in the direction of love songs, and today when I saw that Meghan of Just As I Am was asking for some of our favorite love songs for part of her Single Ladies Blog Party... well, you know that I couldn't pass this one up. So, I'm posting.



All I Ask Of You
How is any list of love songs complete without the classic tune from The Phantom of the Opera? How much do I like this song? Well, let's just say that I have it entirely memorized on the piano, and leave it at that.

Are We Dancing?
This song is from one of my favorite movies The Happiest Millionaire. The tune is simple but elegant.

Beauty and the Beast
One of Disney's best songs, in my opinion. 

Cheek To Cheek
I have no idea what movie this song is from, but it's a fun song by Irving Berlin.

Far Longer Than Forever
From The Swan Princess. And yes, I am a fan of cheesy, little girl movies. How can I help it, when they have such beautiful music?

A Fine Romance
Ah, ha! Just my idea of a romance! Love the lyrics in this song!

Fireproof: Main Titles
Umm... instrumental pieces count, right? Even though my family doesn't listen to most of the music in Fireproof, the main titles are soft and hauntingly beautiful.

How Can Love Survive?
This fun song is from the Broadway version of The Sound of Music. Very epic.

I See the Light
Yup. From Tangled. 

If I Can't Love Her
From Beauty and the Beast: The Broadway Musical. This song isn't included in the Disney film, but it really lends a lot to the character of the Beast.

If You Love Me For Me
Not so well-known song from Barbie as The Princess and the Pauper, yet beautiful in its own right.

Let Me Be Your Wings
I told you I liked cheesy, little girl movies, yes? Well, this is Thumbelina's love song.

The Princess Bride: Main Titles
Another instrumental. You should know this one.

Romantic Flight
Instrumental from HTTYD. I'm actually listening to it right now.

That's Amorè
I've only ever heard this one as it is sung on the Enchanted soundtrack. Oh, course, I change the words a bit: "When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's amorè. When the world seems to glow like there's way too much snow, that's amorè."

Thinking About Lizzy
Instrumental from Pride and Prejudice (1995). 

Throw the Coins
Instrumental from Sense and Sensibility (1995).

True Love's Kiss
Another one from Enchanted. No, I don't agree with the prevalent philosophy the lyrics promote, but it's a cute song, nonetheless.

I enjoy listening to all of these songs, and I'm sure most or some of you know them and enjoy them as well. But this isn't real love, people! This is what the world defines as love, the smushy, mushy, happy-feeling, pink heart, velvet roses kind of love. There is a greater love that most of us brush aside during this season of Valentines. What love is that? If you don't already know, I'm going to add one more favorite love song to my list. Do me a favor: read the lyrics and identify the real love.

“His robes for mine: O wonderful exchange!

Clothed in my sin, Christ suffered ‘neath God’s rage.
Draped in His righteousness, I’m justified.
In Christ I live, for in my place He died.

Chorus:
“I cling to Christ, and marvel at the cost:

Jesus forsaken, God estranged from God.
Bought by such love, my life is not my own.
My praise-my all-shall be for Christ alone.

“His robes for mine: what cause have I for dread?

God’s daunting Law Christ mastered in my stead.
Faultless I stand with righteous works not mine,
Saved by my Lord’s vicarious death and life.

“His robes for mine: God’s justice is appeased.

Jesus is crushed, and thus the Father’s pleased.
Christ drank God’s wrath on sin, then cried “‘Tis done!”
Sin’s wage is paid; propitiation won.

“His robes for mine: such anguish none can know.
Christ, God’s beloved, condemned as though His foe.
He, as though I, accursed and left alone;
I, as though He, embraced and welcomed home!”

That's real love.

God bless!