Tagged! (I'm It).

I just responded to two blogging tags over on The Aspiring Bard, but then I got tagged again by Jessica. And, well, I couldn't just ignore her. Anyway, her questions were genuinely interesting and I had fun answering.

And just 'cause I can, here's a moonrise over my zona, Matacuane.

1. What's the best thing that has come out of blogging for you? The consistent writing practice has been really good for me. I've begun getting acquainted with a few other bloggers, and it still confounds me (in a pleasant way) whenever someone talks about enjoying what I write here. I still write mostly for personal enjoyment and fulfillment...and everything else just sort-of happens.

2. What's one thing you've learned recently? That a bisha is not, in fact, a female bisho (bug), but a queue. I was massively confused when Dino came in talking about how Maquininho was 'full of bishas'. The mental images were alarming, to say the least.

3. Describe yourself in five words. I'll try. You can laugh.

4. Where is your favourite place to write? Ideally, somewhere quiet and uncluttered. But, really, any place where I can set up with my computer and a pair of earbuds. I do love scribbling at random inspirational places (like the beach or in the woods), but most of my 'real' writing takes place at home.

5. Do you have a favourite flower? What is it? One favorite is the multi-flora rose. It's a spiny monster of a thing, but in early summer it redeems itself with beautiful, fragrant roses.

6. Tell us about a book you feel like talking about - any book. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. A blind French girl. A brilliant German soldier-boy. Occupied France. Bittersweet beauty and magic. I was temporarily devastated when I finished reading and then discovered that my library has no other Doerr ebooks. At all.

7. What are your top three tips on how to enjoy life to the fullest? 

Pray instead of stressing and worrying.

Stop for tea, pretty things, and people.

Laugh at yourself and at as many other things as is decently possible.

8. Share something that's inspired you lately - anything: a photo, post, blog, article, book, etc. 

In the spiritual life, God chooses to try our patience first of all by His slowness. He is slow; we are swift and precipitate. It is because we are but for a time, and He has been for eternity...there is something greatly overawing in the extreme slowness of God. Let it overshadow our souls, but let it not disquiet them. We must wait for God, long, meekly, in the wind and wet, in the thunder and the lightning, in the cold and the dark. Wait, and He will come. He never comes to those who do not wait. He does not go their road. When He comes, go with Him, but go slowly, fall a little behind; when He quickens His pace, be sure of it before you quicken yours. But when He slackens, slacken at once; and do not be slow only, but silent, very silent, for He is God. 

-Frederick Faber

I've been chewing on this one for a while, figuring out exactly what I think about it. Another recent(ish) favorite is this quote, from a Catholic leader I met in Malta:

You can be too big for God to use, 

but you can never be too little.

9. Do you prefer rainy winter days by the fire, or warm summer days at the pool or beach? Both have their appeals. But I am a great lover of coziness, so a warm fire and cold rain sound like a particularly appealing combination at the moment. 

10. What's been the best part of your day so far? Probably taking a djopella home from church with one of our neighbors, and hearing her testimony of her recent conversion from Islam to Christianity. A close second was making a funny remark in Portuguese that actually was funny.

Thanks, Jessica!