Balloons O' a Party! {Announcement}


Well, everyone, here is the little surprise I was hinting about in my last post! Fullness of Joy is celebrating its 2nd Blogoversary - in other words, it is having a Birthday and it is hitting 2 years old today! I am just so happy, humbled and blessed at the thought, thankful to you all, but most of all deeply grateful to the Lord for bringing me along this wonderful journey and leading me and teaching me so much through this dear little blog. It had a very small beginning and God has just blessed it so much and taught me so much through it and made me meet so many wonderful and dear sisters and friends in Christ through it. How grateful I am! How blessed! It has been soooo exciting! 

And because I know that we all love to celebrate the tiniest joys in life, I am hosting a special sort of blog party in gratitude to all of you, my sweet friends, for your love and support of Fullness of Joy and its authoress; yes, you heard right - a BLOG PARTY! It will be lots of fun, you bet! So come and join in the fun with me and have a jolly good time telling and tagging along your friends to this party - pretty please? Sadly, there will be no giveaway in this party; I did consider it for a while, but upon thinking it through - I think I want to earn my followers through friendship and through an interest in what I write; you see, it can be so tempting to gain more followers and viewers by giving away material prizes and giveaways to attract people, but it just doesn't seem right  - does that make sense? Not that I think giveaways are bad things *shakeshead* - I think it is very special and sweet and a very nice way of saying thank you to your dear special viewers (I dearly love a giveaway myself, especially if it is a book giveaway!) but it just did not seem to work out this time; so if you were expecting something like that I am really sorry about that. On the happy side though, I plan to make this party very fun and special. So make sure  you don on your party frocks and fancy heels, bring along your umbrellas, and favourite books and enjoy an array of fruity blogposts, cheesecake-yummy questionnaires, sweetie glasses of lemonade and a ball dance of literary-balloons and tags. 'Tis Party Time!

Basically, I have to confess that this party is to celebrate the presence of this blog for two wonderful years, say a heartfelt thank you to you all *big hug*, and finally to be a sort of challenge for myself and all of us to blog more regularly and get involved in connecting with each other and uplifting/encouraging/challenging one-another as sisters in Christ and fellow writers through in-depth posts, tags and lively comments. For to be perfectly candid with you, I have more and more gotten into the absurd habit of starting out posts - sometimes really in-depth and exciting posts - that I either have had little time to complete, was at a loss as to how to complete, or worst of all was simply afraid of posting because... well, it did not feel on par in quality and interest with the manner in which I was looking for in those self-same topics that had been occupying my mind. I often have those thoughts and ideas forming in my head, and in excitement start to write them in posts, but find myself questioning the credibility of how well I am communicating those thoughts, and quit or delay the posts until I am 100% satisfied with it, which of course is never. And you, naturally, are left with very few posts to read, or posts that have a far more rambly nature; meanwhile blogger drafts is left to gawk at my abandoned scribbles. Shame on me! So, in effort to remedy this, I thought up of something that might help me overcome my fear of posting those epistles (yes, I think you know me by now to be of a melodramatic turn), and perhaps by joining in this party, you could help me too and we can all be inspired to do better.

The idea came to me while I was answering the tags of three fellow bloggers during the Christmas break, and fretting over the fact that that my answers were so long for each question and thus I was unable to finish them. And then, as I wrote, I thought that perhaps I could really write them up in separate posts, which gave me the thought that you'd enjoy the opportunity to ask me some questions in a particular post relating to life by me, my faith and beliefs, my writing, questions about my novels, my writing style, characters, etc, favourite books, authors, movies, thoughts on modesty and fashion - all that sort of fun stuff! And, in response to your questions on that particular post, I will go about answering them in 'topic/discussion' posts during the next coming few weeks. What do you think about that? Of course I retain the right to ignore certain 'spoiler' questions, or 'too-private' inquiries, but I know you to be a thoughtful bunch not inclined to too much prying, so I will risk it ;). I think it may prove fun! So keep a lookout in the coming week for a post in which you can ask me all the questions you would dream of asking, while meanwhile you can think them up ^_^. Actually, if you do come up with questions now, you can leave a comment and tell me from now!

But that is not all! Throughout the rest of this week, I will be posting daily with a small topic post in response to the questions in those tags I so sweetly got tagged in - topics ranging from how I outline my novels, do tv episodes inspire me, blogging tips and tricks I blundered through in the last two years, favourite authors, to what my thoughts are on such poplar fandoms as The Hunger Games and The Twilight. But there is also going to be a game of 'tag it', for you too, in which just about everyone can join in! Please do, because I think we'll all have a lot of fun together in it. Today's tag contain more literary-bloggish--fun-and-random questions :D, but I will be posting more 'themed' tags in the next coming days and I really hope you join in. If you do not have a blog, that is no problem, since you can just write up the posts for fun and maybe e-mail or something (Annie, that's for you!).

The Rules:
If you are a follower of this blog, or even a regular viewer, you are tagged in this set of questions. 
1. Copy/paste the tag questions onto a post on your blog, and answer them
2. Leave a link below to your post so we all can join in the fun and get to read your delightful responses.
3. Place the 'Balloons O' a Party' button or link to this post on your blogpost with much hearty love and thanks from Yours Truly (loveyou!)
4. Finally, have fun!

And that's basically it ^_^ Ooo, and Hannah from The Road Goes Ever On is currently working on re-designing my blog. Three cheers for the one who guesses correctly what the colour scheme of the final design will be ^_^.

THE PARTY TAG QUESTIONS:

1. Pretending if need be that you never read any of those titles, (unless you actually haven’t), which book-title intrigues you the most that it would make you abandon all the others and read THAT one book...? Roverandom, The Keys of the Kingdom, That Hideous Strength, The Conflict of Religions in the Early Roman Empire, With Christ in the School of Prayer, Kidnapped, The Ballad of the White Horse, The Robe, The Man Who Was Thursday, or Surprised by Joy...?

2. How do you reconcile yourself with an offended cat? (Tell a clueless girl, here!)

3. Can you describe to us in a seven-word sentence your current surroundings using the five senses: sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch? Otherwise you can name in order the thirteen dwarf characters in The Hobbit without looking the info up online. ‘Tis your choice, you know!

4. Tea or Coffee? Or lemonade?

5. Do you think your writing voice and style on your blog (or novel) is so very different from your normal, day-to-day voice and personality? Or is almost identical?

6. Puddleglum or Mr. Tumnus?

7. Which of the seasons, spring, summer, autumn, or winter, appeals to you most in a literary sense and inspires you to write?

8. Cast your mind back to childhood, what was your favourite Old Testament Bible character as a child? What was your most dearly loved Bible Account? Why?

9. What are some of the films/books or songs that make you tear-up or cry the most (be it because it is so beautiful, or really sad or tragic, etc), tell us why they do that; do you actually like to cry in a movie/book?

10. Do you have any special literary goals or dreams that you wish you could accomplish as a writer during your lifetime (besides publishing, that is!)?

11. If you are a writer, which one of your characters’ internal makeup most echoes a likeness or similitude to you? If you have none of your own – what other fictional character (book/film) does? Explain your answer.

12. Excuse me for another Tolkien reference, but I couldn't help it, alas! Which of the five Middle-earth hobbits do you identify with the most: Bilbo, Frodo, Sam, Merry, or Pippen?

13. What special topic do you relish talking/writing about the most? Like – like a tap that can instantly be turned on... please, do tell!

14. Make your choice, adventurous Stranger; Strike the bell and bide the danger, Or wonder, till it drives you mad, What would have followed if you had.  The Bell and the Hammer, C.S. Lewis ...thus said the inscription next to the bell in that mysterious place in which Polly and Digory came upon, in The Magician’s Nephew. If you had been in their place, would you have taken the adventure of ringing the golden bell as Digory did (not knowing that the White Witch would be awakened) or would you have acted sensibly like Polly but risked being driven mad by the thought of ‘what if’ when you were back home in England?

15. What is that which makes you keep blogging and writing in general in the times when your blog/and or you yourself are at a low ebb? Do you like taking breaks from blogging or miss your followers too much? 

I tag all my sweet followers and regular viewers, and:
(here's to daring that these girls will join in, as will, I hope, all of you! ;)

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P.S. ladies, have you yet seen the new Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug trailer? Just in case you haven't you must check it out: here. It is soooo epic! 

Comments

  1. Oh, oh! I absolutely love fruit and cheesecake. :) Congratulations on the second anniversary of your blog, Joy dear, it's a lovely place to come and visit. And your blog is so nicely designed right now that I couldn't imagine any better changes, but I am sure you shall do excellently with them. ;)

    Yes, oftentimes waiting to post things until they are perfect can be a drawback. Of course, we want our writing to be as good as it can be, but I have found that if I want to finish anything I simply must be satisfied with a little less than the ultimate achievement. For instance, if I waited until I was perfect in the editing process, my poor novel would still be in status "Editing Chapter One" but now, as I've forced myself to move at the pace of one chapter a week, I am actually on chapter 13, and the editing isn't going too badly. :) Besides, I find that even if I'm not perfect, the delight of having finished something is both encouraging and inspires me to finish something else!

    And I would definitely contribute a question or two to your q&a, when you post it! :) Or maybe three or ten... I do want to do better at the blogging interaction than I have been--it's hard to keep up with everything sometimes, but I don't want to merely read people's blogs, but comment and interact as well. That was a good reminder. ;)

    And THANK-YOU for the tag!! What loads of fun. Of course, I have the Sil Part Two on Friday, but would you object if I answered the tag next week?

    Can't wait to see the next posts!

    Love,
    Schuyler

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  2. Congrats and happy birthday to your blog! I can tell you've put in a lot of dedication and enthusiasm even in these first couple of years. Keep up the good work and keep writing! I look forward to reading your blog in the future. And here is link to my response. http://vaporinwind.blogspot.com/2013/06/tagged.html

    Was I supposed to leave it in the comments section? Or somewhere else? Nevertheless, I hope you enjoy. Cheers!

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  3. To answer your question on my blog, the book was written by Bodie and Brock Thoene. I think it was one of the Zion Legacy books. I'd love to participate thank you for thinking of me.

    PS. I love the cover of your WWII story. How did you come up with it? And where did you get it?

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  4. Lady Bibliophile - aww, thank you so much, dear Schuyler! You have been one of the main supporters and encourgers of my blog this past year; I am so thankful for your friendship! and you know, it is funny to think I may never have 'met' you without its presence, (and God's Providence of course!) so I am very thankful to God for that! :D. Ooo, thank you! I know - it has been very hard to decide to redesign this blog, but I think I need to have it a little less cluttered with HTML because it overloads the viewing, and then I think it is fun to change, so long as it isn't too often. Please pray that Hannah and I come up with a really beautiful design and that it works right, as I am a little nervous it won't be half as good as this!

    Your reference to your novel has challenged me, Schuyler, because that is one of my biggest weaknesses in anything I write, but most definitely in my novel-writing! Thank you so much for that encouragement, because it is really a truth that a first draft of anything will not be perfect, and that should be okay, we just have to press on and then edit afterwards, else if we keep stressing over every mistake, nothing will be accomplished in life, aka blogging or writing stories! And it has been something hard for me to overcome...

    I just soooo loved your responses to my last tag! Thank you so much for joining in! I look forward to commenting soon on both the tag posts and the Sil Part One and Two posts when I get the free time, and writing up more tags and things :D. Ooo, I know, I am pretty bad at contributing and sharing with other bloggers, but I try to do so every now and then... but it often is a hard balance between interaction and keeping one's own blog. 'Tis definitely a challenge, but an enjoyable one.

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  5. Danielle Fisher - Thank you so much, Danielle! It is only by God's grace, and a great deal of enjoyment of interacting with other like-minded sisters in Christ and writers. Thanks too for joining in the tag, by the way, I so enjoyed reading your responses, and shall try to comment soon.

    Oo, actually, it was all right to leave the link in the comment section, seeing that I did not put up a linky. Sorry about that!

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  6. Gabrielle -, ah, thanks a lot! I am all perked up by any WW2 stories currently of course!

    You are welcome, dear, I hope you have fun!

    Actually, it is quite a beautiful cover, isn't it! Thanks - one of my blog followers and friends, Emily from A Thousand Words blog, made the cover of A Love that Never Fails and sent it to me - it is not anything official or anything, just for fun, and I love it very much. I think she got two photos from Pinterest, made a mesh-up and edited on PicMonkey :D. It looks quite professional in my opinion, for a moment I got wide-eyed visions of it being a real one ;).

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  7. Oh, I am quite excited to see the changes you will make, Joy. :) And I will be in prayer for them. I agree; it's good to switch things up every now and again. :) It gives you as the author something fresh to work with as well as the readers something new to see. :) And when I re-designed my blog in January, I definitely tried to streamline things to make it as easy to navigate as possible, without making it sparse. :)

    I find it interesting how I stumbled across your blog--through Feminine Farmgirl it was. Actually, we had met that family once or twice(though we don't know them any more) and when I looked on her blog, you had commented! I'm so grateful to find globally like-minded people--it makes the Body of Christ seem more unified than if I only knew people in my little area. :)

    I'm glad you enjoyed the tag! I had *such* fun writing it, I had been hoping for a tag from someone for a while, because they are such delightful things. :)

    Love,
    Schuyler

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  8. Congratulations on two years of blogging, Joy! This collection of writers in the blogging world would be quite different without you and your sweet heart. You're a blessing to all of us, and one of the most regular commenters I know (which is saying a great deal, as your missives are never careless or flighty). I'm thankful that God has brought all of us together. :) Our conversations and discussions rather remind me — on a smaller scale, of course — of the Inklings and their own literary discourses. We have no British pub at our disposal, and we're all sadly split up around the world, but that makes our community no less dear.

    Thank you for tagging me! I don't normally do tags, but I may have to make an exception to that rule for you. :)

    Blessings,
    Elizabeth Rose

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  9. Looks like tons of fun! I'll try to join in sometime in the next couple days!

    ~Nessima

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  10. Here I am at last!!

    *squeals delightedly* Oooo, so THIS is what your surprise was?!! I was thinking something along the lines of a blog makeover perhaps, but the thought of a blog party never entered my head...if I had realized that Fullness of Joy's anni. was so close I might have guessed it. ;)
    Congratulations on the second "birthday" of your blog and Many Happy Returns of the Day!!!! *dances around happily whilst scattering glitter and tinsel everywhere and then tackles her Samwise in a hug*
    I remember the day I first discovered Fullness of Joy and left a comment on one of your sunset photos...little did I imagine how dear a friend you were to become to me. :) Your sweet, encouraging, jolly, loving friendship is such a blessing to me, Joy. I love how similar we are to each other and I am so VERY thankful that God led me to your wee corner of the blogsphere! ^.^ I love you, sweet girly!! *huggles*
    I completely understand whatcha mean about giveaways and I can honestly say I'm not disappointed that you aren't hosting one; I'm just thrilled about the party!! ^_^ I'll be sure to root out a parasol (of teal-colour, preferably) and don some silky, lacy cream gown and a pair 'o fancy stilettos (the fact that I don't actually own heels is entirely besides the point! *nods*). *is looking forward to the lemonade and other fruity, cheesecake-yummy, bloggy goodness!*
    I think your plan to help you overcome your "posting difficulties" (which you have my heartiest sympathies for, dear. <3) is a grand one! Especially since it involves the participation of your readers! *mischievous grin* I've been brainstorming questions already and I'm looking forward to asking them, when you put up that particular post, and then finding out the answers when you blog them. *bounces with excitement* And I can't wait to read the topic posts you'll be putting up. They sound quite intriguing! :)))
    Awww, and you mentioned me twice!! *pinks with delight* I was so touched when I saw that you'd tagged me and read what you said! You're so sweet, darlin'. ^.^ <3 I will most definitely be participating in this (and the other tags) via e-mail. *happy smile* *loves the questions muchly* I foresee I shall have a blast answering them. ^_^
    Fullness of Joy is being re-designed?!!! Ooohness!! O.O *squeaks in mingled surprise and excitement* I am VERY curious to see what the final result is! :)) Concerning hobbi-er, the colour scheme! ;) Well, I really am rather oblivious as to your favorite colours (Ooo, I know one question that I'll be asking you! *merry wink*) so I'm just going to say....erm, gold-and-pink?? O.o
    I think you are already acquainted with my exact sentiments regarding The Desolation of Smaug trailer. *grins at her fellow Tolkienite*
    Congrats again, mon Joyish-ness!!!!!! <3 <3 <3

    P.S. If you have any difficulties thinking up questions for your themed tags, just give me a holler. I am at your service, Mr. Boggins. *bows*

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  11. Happy blogoversary! :D I enjoyed answering the questions and I hope your next year of blogging is delightfully fun and beautifully God-glorifying!

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  12. Happy second Blogversary, Joy! I haven't been as good at keeping up with blogs lately. So much has been going on and I have neglected my own wee corner of blogland. I just read your lovely comment which you posted on my blog. Thank you for thinking of me, dear!
    Now I'm off to catch up on your most recent posts!

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  13. Thank you for your prayers, Schuyler! The blog-design is starting to look really beautiful - a little different and simpler than now... but *shutsmouth* I better keep it a surprise! I think the most important thing about a design is that it makes for clear format that is good for reading (highest priority), and second that it would be a charming place to make the viewer happy (the colours and designs wouldn't clash or hurt the eyes). :D

    Thank you for sharing how you stumbled upon my blog, because that is always something interesting to know... but really, I think this time around, it was God's loving care of bringing us to 'meet'. What a blessing! I generally find that being active on other people's blogs through comments and all that and making connections is a great way to keep one's own blog alive and interactive. However, sometimes, I slack a bit just with all the nice blogs I follow ;). That is so true, Schuyler, about the encouragement and Christian support of the Body of Christ, especially like minded young ladies who love the Lord - such a beautiful thing!

    Aww, I am so happy you enjoyed the tag!! I LOVED your answers, though I have not had a chance yet to comment on that particular post; and especially the last one - it nearly brought tears to my eyes as I so needed that, about why you keep blogging! Thank you, Schuyler, so much <3 *hugs*. Aren't tags fun? Would you like it that I made another round of tags for you girls to join in in?

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  14. Elizabeth Rose - your sweet comment was so encouraging, dear, it almost brought tears to my eyes! I don't know if I ever told you, but you were one of the first blogs I ever followed, and such an inspiration to me in this journey of blogging, so I sort of feel a special gratitude to you for inspiring me in that *hugs*. God is so good, and I am glad we've 'met', if only through the internet. I do truly love your blog too ;). Yes, that is very true. I've often felt that way about our 'online-group', that it echoes the sort of thing Lewis and Tolkien and Sayers and such greats had in their Inklings group, though on a far smaller and timid scale. It has been such a challenging inspiration, however; a blessing from the Lord!! It is very dear to me too <3.

    Thank you for stopping by and agreeing to join in the tag, Elizabeth, despite it not being the sort of thing you normally do on your blog: I can't wait to read your responses to the tag ;). God bless!

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  15. Thanks, Nessima!

    Aww, thank you so much, Katherine Sophia! That is so sweet of you. I am encouraged; I so enjoyed reading your responses to the tag on your blog. Thanks for joining in!

    Oo, don't you fret, Holly dear, but thank you! I can totally understand how busy you have been these past weeks!! Take your time, dear, and enjoy the fun :D.

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  16. Last, but definitely not least, my dear Annie!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Alas, I am late again and must hasten, or else I will be late for bed again *nodsheaddowntochestsleepily* :D. I SOOOO love reading your comments, my darling; you sure do know how to warm the cockles of my heart with your sparkles of sweet notes!

    Yep, that was my little surprise all along. Do you like it?! I thought it would strike your fancy, dear :D. Aww, thank you so much *hugs*!!! *ducks under all the glitter and tinsel falling over my head and grabs her samwise in a squeeze of jolly happiness*

    You know, this day that you left a comment on that sunset photo post is so clear in my memory too - I was very much blessed by your small, sweet message - it warmed my heart so, but never would I have known how close and dear friends we'd become either, and how much I'd come to know you as a friend and sister <3. God is so good!!!! Aww - aren't you the sweetest! But that's the kind of friend you are to me too, Annie =). Yes, we have so, so many things in common it is so astonishing and exciting! I love chatting with you about all sorts of things - from writing, to books, Brett's Holmes vs. Cumberbatch's Sherlock, Lord of the Rings,.... to siblings and families, to faith and fun stuff, sorrows and joys, and most of all JESUS!

    Ooooo, SO AM I! I am sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo glad that the Lord did make us 'meet'. It makes me so happy and thankful to the Lord for His goodness <3. I LOVE YOU TOO *huggles back*
    You understand about not giving giveaways and that sort of thing? *sighsinrelief* I am glad! And I am glad you are enjoying this party, Annie - it would hardly be right without you! WOW *gasps* you are looking gorgeous - may I borrow your teal-coloured parasol, pretty please?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D Not that I need it... the sun is too beautiful to shade-away from here in the winter months!

    The party is coming along slowly, but it is getting there ;). I so happy my Annie is enjoying herself too :D. I loved your questions! Hmm, and I can't wait for your email with the tag-response. That will be so much fun to read!

    You are oblivious to my favourite colours. Naturally. But you will have to wait to see if your guess regarding the colour scheme of my new design is anywhere near correct ^_^.

    Thank you, Mister Kili indeed ;)! I may indeed take you up on your offer, if you have any ideas for themed tags that you'd like to e-mail me? I'd be more than delighted *nodshead*

    LOVE YOU and God bless!

    "Mr. Baggins at yours" *tilts head, and ties the belt of my nightrobe*

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