Happy Blog Birthday, Ellen's Musings! 😄

*hops on humming Happy Birthday to You . . .* I cannot believe my blog is 3 years old!!! The occasion is fully worthy of a giveaway, which is exactly what I have planned. 😄

Image credit: Sawyer Marie

THE PRIZES:

*A signed paperback copy of The Whispers God Gives

*A small notebook with the color of the cover similar to that of my devotional book

*A $10 Starbucks gift card

HOW TO ENTER:

Simply drop a comment below telling me how long you've been reading my blog, what your favorite post has been, or what posts you'd like to see from me in the future! Bonus entries if you follow my blog via Blogger (although being a follower is not a requirement to enter), give me a follow on Goodreads, leave a review for my book on any social media platform, or share the news of this giveaway with a friend. If you do it all, you'll get a total of five entries. Please note that, due to shipping costs, this giveaway is only open to US residents. Sorry, international friends ☹️

Have fun and good luck! This giveaway ends on Monday, December 20, and I will announce the winner the following day!

Blessings,

Ellen

Thursday Thoughts // We Got a Cat?!

A few developments have taken place around the Senechal household . . . one of the biggest being that we adopted a super sweet 12-week-old kitten named Juniper. We love her a lot! She's cuddly and playful and tons of fun. As I type this post, she's wandering around the bedroom I'm in. Adorable. 😍

Juniper and me.
(Somehow my fear of all creatures on four legs dissipated when I saw this beautiful kitten. But that doesn't mean I'm an animal person. Yet.)

*heart melts*

Juniper is my sister Marah's early birthday present, which basically means she's Marah's responsibility but the rest of us benefit from her 😂

I also have two new "jobs" now, which I'm excited about. One is writing weekly devotions for our church website.  They're generally written, proofread, and posted by Wednesday. I don't feel comfortable with making the link to that website public here on my blog, but if you're interested in reading those devotions, email me and I'll send the link to you privately. 😄

My other "job" is a volunteer project I hope to do every Tuesday morning. PLUS, I just registered for dual enrollment college classes through Regent University starting Monday, August 23.  

So, yes, I'll be busy in the upcoming weeks, and I think I'll have to set aside doing Monday Musings posts again for the time being. But never fear! I have no intention of abandoning this blog entirely, and I'm still working on providing an alternative email system to Feedburner. As you can see by the title of this post, I missed Monday but may have just begun a new series of posts called "Thursday Thoughts" instead. We'll see. 😃 Stay tuned!

Blessings,

Ellen💗

Monday Musings // Photo Dump

Hello again friends! It's been far too long since the last time I posted on this blog, and I plan to make up for that today. 😊

Sadie and "Mama Ellie" 😍

My family and I spent a week vacationing at the beach!

Mom and me. 💕

Horseshoe crab!

🤩🤩🤩

I shared a bedroom with four of my sisters in the condo we rented. 😄

I went to take a picture of Ruby playing in the sand just as Sadie walked by with a shovel full of water. 😂

Sand creatures!

Body boarding! 

Yummy. 😋

I loved getting up early every morning to see the sunrise!

S'mores.

"How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand." -Psalm 139:17-18

Sisters. 💗

Reading on the beach! 

While on vacation, my siblings and I played mini golf for the first time. (The course had an underwater theme.) 😁 

More of the golf course. It felt like we'd walked into a scene from the Wizard of Oz movie. 😂 I told Connor (my older bro), "We're not in Kansas anymore!" and he quipped back, "Well, we're not underwater anymore!" 

Yep, you guessed it. We had to get our ball inside the clam's mouth (which was steadily opening and closing) in one hit. None of us made it, but it was fun to try.

Aaaand, that's it for the photo dump! Hope you enjoyed. 😄 Comment below what picture was your favorite!
Also, just want to give y'all a head's-up that Feedburner (the service I use to get emails to my subscribers) is shutting down in July. I'm on the lookout for an alternative, but until then you won't be able to get emails when I post. (Sorry, Grandma. 😢) If anyone has an email service they'd recommend, please let me know. 

Blessings,

Ellen S.

Taking a Break

Hi friends!! Just wanted to let you know that recently I've felt led to take an Internet hiatus, so, starting tomorrow, I won't be moderating or responding to comments, checking my Gmail, visiting the blogosphere, or frequenting Goodreads. I'm not sure how long the break will last, but I hope to use this time to recharge and refocus . . . and maybe do some extra writing. 😄 

Goodbye for now! *sends virtual hugs* 😘

Blessings,

Ellen S.

December 15, 2020 // Giveaway Winner Announced!

Congratulations to Annalise O'Brien for winning the giveaway!! 🎉🎉🎉 And thanks to all who entered for helping make this two-year blogiversary an epic one. 😄 @Annalise, you'll find my contact information below. Please slip me an email ASAP with your mailing address and book of choice (either There Was Always Laughter In Our House or More Tales from Memory Creek Ranch), so I can get your prizes shipped out! 🤗

This day brings back soooo many special memories. Sitting at the dining room table, Sadie (then eleven months old) in her highchair, watching me as I typed up my first post. When that was done and the URL ready to be shared, I promptly (and virtually) squealed the news to some email buddies, who've stuck by me and cheered me on ever since. *beams* 

In two years' time, Ellen's Musings has exceeded a hundred followers total through Blogger and email. Three thousand comments have been submitted, accepted, and posted. Over two hundred posts published . . . two hundred more in drafts. 😂 It's been an amazing journey, one only God could orchestrate. I've met many, many wonderful people and have received so much encouragement and support from you all. Each new comment brings a warmth to my heart. 💗 You guys are truly the best! 

"May my meditation be pleasing to Him, for I rejoice in the LORD." Psalm 104:34

Blessings,

Ellen S.

Two Years Old // Blog Birthday Giveaway!!

Tuesday, December 15, 2020, will officially mark the two-year anniversary of Ellen's Musings. Soooo, to celebrate, it's time for a giveaway . . . quite possibly the biggest in the history of this blog. 😄 *alllll the confetti*

Watch the video below to find out what the prizes are, then read on for instructions! 

Ways you can enter:

💜Follow Ellen's Musings (via either email or Blogger)

💜Drop a comment with one (or all) of your favorite celebration emojis 🥳

💜Tell a friend or post about this giveaway on any social media site (IG, FB, Pinterest, your blog, Goodreads, etc.)

AND/OR

💜Watch the giveaway video 😀

You have from now until Monday, December 14, to submit your entries for a chance to win. Please note that this giveaway is open to USA residents only. 

Have fun and good luck!

Blessings,

Ellen S.

"Woodbreak - the Prequel" by Rebekah Morris // Series Announcement and Review

Hey guys! The weather where I live has been wonky lately, with 90+ degree heat in the afternoon and violent storms come nightfall. So thankful for a cozy house to live in, an air-conditioner that keeps me cool, and new books to help me stay busy when I'm spending the day indoors.

Which reminds me . . . 

Today, I'm so excited to announce the release of a brand-new series of books by author Rebekah Morris. I've read several different works by this author and have enjoyed them immensely. Rebekah's heart (and the stories she writes!) truly shine for Christ.

So when earlier this month she asked for readers to help promote her new series, Woodbreak, I snatched up the opportunity, and she sent me a free e-copy of the prequel. Time for a review! 

"Woodbreak - the Prequel"

back cover summary:

Who holds the key to Woodbreak's hidden past?
When Ryan and Robin decide to search out the history of their family's ranch, their quest leads them to an old box filled with curious artifacts. Who was the mysterious Anna? What brought her west? And what connection does she have to the strange name carved into the log? A peek into Anna's diary reveals a few answers but even more questions. Is there anyone who can show them the truth of Woodbreak?

review (copied straight from Goodreads):

*a full 5 stars*
This book was very enjoyable. I was easily able to read it all in one sitting, smiling, laughing a little, being pulled into the characters' fun fiction world. Vividly-painted scenes came to life as I eagerly turned each page, held captive by the author's writing style and the joy and mystery that shone through every word she wrote. Best of all, the content is appropriate for just about any age. I have a feeling "Woodbreak - the Prequel" will be landing in my sisters' hands here soon.
Highly, highly recommend, and now I can't wait to dive into the next book of the series, which waits for me now on my lovely Kindle e-book reader. :)
Congrats on your release, Miss Morris, and a HUGE thanks for allowing me to ARC read for you.

*I received a free e-copy of this book. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*

Hurry up and add the Woodbreak series to your TBR, 'cause for sure you won't want to miss out on Rebekah's fun writing style and clean reading adventures! <3

On another note . . . How's the weather where you live? Do you enjoy thunderstorms? What're some things you're thankful for amidst the heat, the rain, and COVID-19?

Blessings,

Ellen S.

I'm Back!! // Life Update + Photo Dump

Hi lovelies!! I know, I know, I've been slacking off the blogosphere for a while now and haven't published more than three posts this month. Sorry about that. While I'm certainly not experiencing writer's block (actually, my writer's flow has kicked in full-time within these past couple of weeks), I've devoted the majority of my free time to revising WIPs, going for walks w/ my sibs, participating in a "Junk Journal July" challenge w/ my mom and sis . . . oh, and tackling a super fun, super secret editing job I hope to announce sometime next month. Thus, I've had close to no room left on my plate for writing fresh, brand-new blog posts . . . or catching up on the boatload of tags I've been nominated for. With my to-do list growing shorter, that comes soon, hopefully!! For now, how about a quick photo dump from the past week or so? 😊

😊😊😊

Those eyes. 💛💛💛

Editing is like . . . my very most favorite hobby in all the world. 😁

Ohhhhhh. Myyyyyy. I'm absolutely in love with these adorable candy wrappers from my friend Aleigha @ Literary Treasures Co. 😍😍😍 (I bought, like, 20 of these. any ideas what I should do with them? hmm? maybe a giveaway after the weather has cooled off and I won't have to worry about shipping out melted chocolate?)

Well, that's all for now. I hope you guys enjoyed this brief life update. *smile*

Comment below and tell me what you've been up to recently! 

Blessings,

Ellen S.

The Accidental Cases of Emily Abbott Series

Hey friends! Just thought I'd hop on today and share some bookworm randomness + a fun series recommendation with y'all. :) 

Thanks to one of my awesome blog readers and Goodreads friend, Abby J., a couple months back I was inspired to read the six+ book collection, The Accidental Cases of Emily Abbott. I'd seen this series a number of times before, but one glance at the covers and blurbs made me certain the books would come off as sounding wayyyy too cheesy for my liking.

As it turns out . . . I was so wrong. THESE BOOKS ARE AMAZING! Right next to Mrs. Marlow's Circle C series, these are my favorite. :) (you've gotta check 'em out, guys . . . ASAP!) I had the whole series read within a twenty-four hour period (on top of trying to study for a difficult science test I was taking the following Monday. Now that, I don't recommend. xD). Each novella is clean, wholesome, and totally fit for readers of any age. A full five stars from me! 

After I'd finished them, I handed the Kindle over to my thirteen-year-old brother and he and I have both reread the series many times since. We even started dreaming up "codenames" inspired by Mrs. Kirkpatrick for the family. Mine is Agent Eagle Eye, one of my brothers' is Agent Obvious (don't worry, he's fine with it), baby Ruby's is Agent Ravine . . . and so on. :D

Did you enjoy this post? What have you been reading recently? Do you have a cool codename you'd care to share? Curious about the story behind mine? Comment below! <3

Blessings,

Ellen S.

The Simple Things Tag (2020 Edition)

The lovely Emma Starr tagged me for this last October. Now, a number of months later, I was nominated for it again by SawyerMarie from Sundrop Girls. (go check her blog out and give it  a follow, friends! she has some amazing, God-honoring content.) 

Since this is one of my favorite tags (and I was challenged by one of my favorite blogger friends), I figured I'd go ahead and do a 2020 edition of the "Simple Things" tag. :) Enjoy!

RULES:

1). Link back to the person who started the tag and thank them. Thanks, Camille! 

2). Link back to the person who tagged you and thank them. Done! ^^^^

3). Use the graphic below.

4). List 5 simple things that make you happy with pictures.

5). Tag 3 people.

6). Remind everyone to be joyful with the little things!

All righty, here goes! In no particular order, five simple things that make me happy would be . . . 

1). Walks w/ with these two cuties (aka my sisters). 

2). Checking my Spam folder. (and no, I'm not joking. xD) All Blogger, Wordpress, and Goodreads updates go here to be read and refiled in their correct locations. :)

3). The moving glitter in my phone case!! Believe it or not, I've wanted a case like this ALL. MY. LIFE. and finally, in May of this past year, my little dream has come true! Tilting this gorgeous case causes the white and gold heart-shaped confetti pieces to swirl and sparkle in a most spectacular display. (can you guess by now I'm obsessed with all things glitter??) *heart eyes*

(let it be known that yes, while not shown here, I do have a phone to go with the case. ;D)

4). Snail mail!!!! Opening the mailbox and discovering an envelope with YOUR name on it has to be one of the best, most exciting feelings in the world. 

5). Spending time daily with God and writing verses/thoughts in the journal my mom made for me. :D

Wow, that was bunches of fun! :) Now it's your turn. Comment below and tell me what five simple things make you happy (or if you'd prefer to do this tag on your blog, go right ahead!). I look forward to seeing your answers! <3

REMEMBER TO BE JOYFUL WITH THE LITTLE THINGS! (which, in reality, are not all that little.)

Blessings,

Ellen S.

Life Lately // Impromptu Photo Dump

Hi friends!! Just thought I'd hop on and share with y'all some of the fun pictures I've taken recently along with a few other random tidbits of life. Enjoy! 

My sister, Marah, and I have been taking walks almost daily. Between mushrooms and blooming flowers (to see what I'm referring to, scroll down to the next few photos), headphones, water puddles (don't ask >.<), and an old wooden bridge with a scenic view, we're enjoying this time together immensely.

A new book!!!! "Overcomer" is amazing, you guys, and soooooo worth the five+ stars. (Thanks, Lilly, for suggesting I read it! <3)

Special K., almond milk, and fresh (green) bananas. Yummm. 

Photo shoots with my sweet four-month-old sister, Ruby Jane. :)

I get to be a judge in Mrs. Marlow's Circle C writing contest!!!!!!!!!!!!! This has been my dream for the past three+ years, so I'm REALLY excited. :D :D :D

Book signing!!!!!!

Lots of rain . . .

Styling my sister's hair. :D

My sweet friend, Emma, brought me some fantabulous bookmail the other day. *all the heart eyes*

By the river! 

My amazing (somewhat organized) bookshelf!!

Sisters. <3 <3 <3

And . . . another scenic pic. ;)

Did you enjoy this impromptu photo dump? What was your favorite picture? Do you like your bananas ripe or green? Any books on my shelf that you recognize/own/want to read? Let's talk in the comments below!