November 8, 2009 - Happy Happy Joy Joy, Here's The Boy!
Samuel and Me
I'm In Love
Isn't he the CUTEST?!
©AmandaDixon2009
11/8/2009 - :)
So, I have not been on here for a very long time. I think i might start blogging again. 
It is very cold outside. lol
Haylee.
Nov. 7, 2009 - I've Moved!
Hello, friends. I'm not dead, can you believe it?! There's entirely too much to explain at the present time, but I have just today started a new blog. You can read about why I haven't posted since November and why I'm moving by hopping over to http://drgnfly1010.wordpress.com.
Thank you so much for reading my blog and keeping up with me and commenting.. I know I've been off-kilter not only since August, but even before that, but I'm hoping that that's all going to change now ;). So please check out my new blog and follow it! I'm still in the process of catching up on all of your blogs, as well, but I don't think I'm going to be able to catch everything, so if there's something particularly exciting or life-changing, let me know!
Goodbye for now,
~Bethany
November 7, 2009 - Tickled Blue!
I am so excited and very proud to say I am now officially the oldest of 9 children! :) Samuel Ira was born today! We are 20 years and 12 days apart. He is just precious and sweet! A true gift from God! I'm tickled there is another newborn in the house! :D Altho... there are so many people to share him with. LOL! Trying to snatch him anytime I can! ;) Will get some more up about him and pictures soon! :D I am just soo happy he's here!
I am so blessed by God to have another sibling to love, to watch grow up and to TRY to be an example of how to live as our Messiah did!
Thank you God for the blessing of this precious babe! Such an awesome Shabbat this has been!
©AmandaDixon2009
Nov. 7, 2009 - My 4th Blogoversary
Yes, three cheers for me for blogging for four whole years, right? I think so. I don't really remember what I thought of blogging when I first started, so I won't go into any of that. All I know is that now I love it.
So instead of all of the usual sap that people post about for their blogoversaries, I am just going to post link to some of my favorite posts that I have written over these past four years. Does that sound like fun? I hope so!
2006
- The Books Are Always Better
- Central Oregon 101 ~ A brief introduction to my hometown.
- None Other Than My Mother ~ A poem I wrote for Mother's Day
- Humans and Habits ~ Have a habit that you need to break? Read this!
- Avoiding Foolish and Ignorant Disputes ~ with a Lord of the Rings flavor.
- Another Poem ~ I wrote a lot more poetry several years ago than I do now!
- A Thoughtful Journey ~ Yes, another poem.
- Analogies and The Great Critical Thinker
- I've Got a Plan! ~ What do you plan on doing after you graduate?
- The Better Blogging Movement #1
- The Better Blogging Movement #2
- How Important is the Pencil ~ Do you take the pencil for granted? Read this and gain a new perspective on one of the most little thought of writing instruments.
- Protecting Little Knees ~ Older siblings, we have a responsibility towards our little sisters and brothers.
- My Graduation Speech
2009
- No Fishing Allowed!
- Lament of the Stars ~ Are there no, truly good actors out there?
- Hardships of Friendships ~ Another lament, of a more serious sort.
- Only Jesus...
- Don't Waste Your Time! ~ Do you waste time of things that only have worldly value?
- Sweetness is...
- Living on Charity ~ Did you know that we are all living on charity?
Finally, these last two are from the last two months.
- The Church in the Wildwood ~ How I long to hear those old hymns sung in a church setting!
- Whose Leaves Were Fair
Copyright 2009 Defective Compositions
Nov. 6, 2009 - NaNoWriMo: Progress and Location
It is now day 6 of NaNoWriMo, I believe. For the most part is is gong very well, and I am rather pleased with my progress. I have written almost every day, and I am well above the average word count per day, which is a good thing. It means I'm ahead of schedule.
There was one day that I wrote hardly a thing. I wanted to write, but I wasn't sure what to write next. I keep harboring suspicions that my plot isn't big enough for 50,000 words. Yet here I am, still plugging away. Well, plugging isn't exactly the right word; I am enjoying myself.
Just in case you wanted to know, there is now a meter on my sidebar that will tell you my current word count. It updates when I do, so, if you are interested, be sure to keep checking back!
I am quite in love with my bedroom/studio. I would like to think of it as my studio, at any rate. It's where I do almost everything! I wanted to show it to you, so here it is!
So, that's it! You had a peek into my charming attic bedroom and workspace. The poor thing is simply yearning for Christmas decorations, but have yet to make any. I have an idea for a garland...but that is not what this post is about.
Nov. 5, 2009 - Happy Birthday!
Our little preemie, Sarah, turns two today!
Happy birthday, Sarah Jane!!!
Nov. 4, 2009 - Whose Leaves Were Fair...
...whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation.
Copyright 2009 Defective Compositions
November 3, 2009 - Wordless Wednesday: Two Decades
Nov. 2, 2009 - Noble Rose Press Interview!
Today is a special day here at Defective Compositions, because this is my first interview. Not only that, but I had the pleasure to interview two of the nicest girls of my "acquaintance", Miss Breezy Tulip, and Miss Emily Rose.
These lovely ladies have recently started Noble Rose Press, and are currently selling some of the neatest and most beautiful paper dolls you will ever find.
What inspired you to begin making paper dolls in the first place?
We were working on paper dolls for the Girlhood Home Companion Magazine, when Mom came up with the idea that we could sell our own historical paper dolls of Christian women from history. We planned to sell them in an Etsy shop, but as things progressed plans changed. A friend suggested that we try to see if Vision Forum might be interested in them and then began the process of having to answer many questions, such as how the dolls would be packaged, printed and priced to name just a few. Through that process we were able to develop a larger entrepreneurial mindset for the project (and future projects).
Will you please share about the actual process of designing and creating the dolls?
As soon as Breezy would finish a doll or dress, Emily Rose would get to work on cleaning up the artwork, which included adjusting the coloring, removing blemishes, and smoothing rough textures and edges. After the dolls and their dresses had been enhanced, Emily Rose laid them out in a program and then we both collaborated on the design of the book layout. From there they went to the printers.
Did any problems arise? If so, how were you able to work through them?
We had a few extra long days, which at times would make us weary, but those were the days that God was especially using to teach us that He is our strength and we need to lean on Him. There were a few complications with the printing, which was a little discouraging at times. Through those complications we learned more
about how the process of printing works, which we would not of learned if everything had gone smoothly the first time.
Why did you decide to do the dolls that you did? (Katherine von Bora and Idelette Calvin, Abigail Adams and Sarah Edwards, Pocahontas, and Priscilla Mullins.)
We wrote out a list of women we had read about in history, women we admired and that had particularly left an impression on us. The list grew as we looked through books, talked with friends and were reminded of more and discovered others. We started with Katharina von Bora and Idelette Calvin because they were the wives of two Reformers in the 1500's, their hospitality and strength encouraged and blessed their husbands. Abigail Adams and Sarah Edwards are two of our heroines from the 1700's, both of whom showed fortitude while their husbands were under a great deal of stress. In collection three is Pocahontas and Priscilla Mullins, hailing from Jamestown and Plymouth, respectively, who were just two of the women who God raised up in the very earliest day's of our country's beginning to bless their communities.
Are there plans for more collections in the future?
You'll just have to wait and find out! :)
I'm sure that I would have become tired of the project at times. Did you have any struggles, and if you did, what helped you through them?
It was truly by the grace of God that we were able to complete the paper dolls. Our days were long and sometimes wearisome, but we knew that our work would not be in vain. It was (and still is) our prayer that the Lord would use our paper dolls and the stories of these ladies to inspire young ladies. The thought of what the Lord might accomplish with them and the strength He granted us made us persevere.
Finally, do you have any encouraging thoughts for the readers, or helpful tips for aspiring artists or entrepreneurs?
Seek God. Follow God. Obey God. Developing the talent(s) that the Lord has given you is very important so that that gift does not fall to the wayside, but is instead nurtured. You never know to what extent the Lord may use your gift for the furtherance of His kingdom.
Our mother was a great help to us as she did most of the business-side of the research as we worked on the paper dolls. Two of the most helpful tools that we were blessed by as we began our new business was The Best of the 2006 Entrepreneurial Bootcamp produced by Vision Forum and the information and articles on the New Venture Lab website.
We also encourage you to seek out wise counsel from your parents. The wisdom of Proverbs 11:14 proved to be invaluable as we were so blessed to have
wise godly counsel.
I know that Breezy and Emily have inspired me numerous times, and have inspired me yet again with their dedication to their work, not to mention their talent and good taste!
You can find these girls blogging on their personal blogs, A Bowl of Moss and Pebbles, and Simply Vintagegirl. You can also go check out and buy their paper dolls at Noble Rose Press, and I highly recommend doing so!
Copyright 2009 Defective Compositions
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