#elijah reads books 📚

[herlondonboy]

How the song of achilles felt after putting me into a reading slump TWICE

[robbiefischer]

📚💛☕️🤔 for Julian and Niko and maybe Alexei and Elijah??

Tysm anon, these were such fun questions to work on and I'm always thrilled to get a chance to think about my faves! I appreciate it so much!

📚 BOOKS — what level of education has your oc most recently completed/is currently in (GED, undergraduate, grad school, phd, etc)?

Julian finished undergrad and that's where he stopped. He was never especially fond of school (he always did well without really trying, but found it incredibly boring and the atmosphere unpleasant) and wasn't going to go to college at all, especially since his parents weren't offering any financial support. But his aunts really encouraged him to go on their dime, and study whatever he wanted so he got his BFA in music composition and minored in studio art. He's not especially interested in pursuing anything further, other than private music lessons to improve his skills but occasionally he kicks around the idea of a conservatory program for piano if he gets more serious about it.

Niko most recently completed his PhD in art history, he also has his masters in museology. He's always been SUCH an overachiever when it comes to school and academics (he double majored in undergrad, and has always been at the top of his class in school at every level), and while he's not currently in any program he's not opposed to the idea of it and would probably leap at the chance to do another degree if the opportunity came along.

I did this question for Elijah and Alexei for another ask, here it is!

💛 YELLOW HEART — how many languages does your oc speak? what language(s) are they learning, if any?

Julian's fluent in English and French, and has learned quite a bit of Greek for Niko's family - he's probably in between a B1-B2 on the CEFR scale. He's working on improving his Greek more than anything, but he's not averse to picking up little bits of Italian or German from Niko and Saoirse. He finds languages really interesting to dabble in, even if he's not looking to become fluent in them.

Niko's fluent in English and Greek (he grew up bilingual), as well as Italian which he studied through school and undergrad. He's around a C1 in French, and at about the B2 level in German, both of which he started learning later because they're both so vital in art history studies. He lowkey hates speaking German though, and tends to stick more to reading and writing in it while he's happy to speak French.

Elijah's only fluent in English, but he's learning Korean mostly on his own with the help of one of his teammates, Flora. He's still very much a beginner at it, somewhere between A2-B1 on the CEFR scale. He took Spanish in school but has forgotten pretty much everything he learned since he never used it.

Alexei speaks English fluently, and while he's not fluent in either he's relatively advanced in both Spanish and French. He's a bit better in Spanish (especially with speaking) as he took it in school and didn't start learning French until he was an adult. He's probably close to C1 in Spanish, and B2 in French. He's a bit like Julian in that he just finds languages really interesting and tends to pick them up easily, so they're a fun hobby for him.

☕️ HOT BEVERAGE — does your oc prefer coffee, tea, hot chocolate, milk, water, or some other drink? how do they like to take this drink (ex. coffee with milk, hot chocolate with whipped cream, a specific kind of tea, etc)?

Niko is all about tea lattes and while he prefers a good chai latte, he'll drink matcha lattes or earl grey lattes as well. He'll drink coffee, but generally doesn't enjoy it. Every great once in a while he likes a good, really rich cup of dark chocolate hot cocoa. He's not really a fan of water overall - he'll drink it because it's necessary, but it's boring. He prefers sparkling, and would rather it be flavored.

Julian probably loves sparkling water than anything else. He just finds it really refreshing, unlike still water which he thinks tastes kind of stale. He's not a big fan of coffee overall, it makes him feel a bit jittery, so he usually sticks to tea. He loves green and white teas, he definitely prefers them over black teas which he finds can get a bit bitter and unpleasant.

Alexei's an iced coffee boy. Even if it's cold out, that's what he wants. He has a few favorite drinks from Literati that he loves, but will often make himself a big travel cup of it at home (with fancy syrups) to take to work with him. They always keep a jug of cold brew concentrate in the fridge to use as a base and he goes through it pretty quickly (less quickly now that he knows you're supposed to dilute it).

Elijah's one true love is matcha, and he makes himself all sorts of fancy concoctions and lattes with it. But he loves coffee too, and fancy hot cocoa. Don't make him choose between his children, he literally works at a coffee shop and will try anything once.

🤔 THINKING FACE — what are some of your oc's quirks/mannerisms?

Okay, this is the hard one! This is something I hadn't really considered before so I don't have a ton for you (sorry!), but here's what I've managed to think of for them over the last few days.

Niko talks with his hands, especially when he's talking about something he's really passionate about. He's also a fidgeter when he's stressed or trying to focus himself - he alternates between bouncing his leg under the table if he's sitting, tapping his fingertips against the table or any flat surface in front of him or, if neither of those things are an option, twisting one of the many rings he wears as a fidget.

Julian is 100% a lip biter when he's worried, or stressed, or concentrating. When he's really focusing on something, he'll stick the tip of his tongue out just a tiny bit which Niko finds ridiculously cute. Julian has no idea that he does this, and Niko will never tell him because he knows if he does Julian will get embarrassed about it and stop doing it.

Alexei taps the tip of his pen or pencil against his desk when he's reading essays or parent e-mails or whatever, usually to the rhythm of whatever song's currently stuck in his head. He's also a hummer and will often be humming something under his breath quietly when he's trying to concentrate on something.

Elijah furrows his brow when he's concentrating on something and he doesn't realize he's doing it until Alexei's stroking the pad of his thumb between his eyebrows to release it. He tends to doodle absentmindedly whenever he's left with a pencil or pen and something he can draw on - could be the back of an envelope, a cocktail napkin or an actual notebook. He's also incapable of sitting in a chair properly - he's either sprawled out in it with a leg hooked over one arm, perched on the edge with his feet tucked up under him or leaning back in it.

[nico-di-genova]

Hiya, how are you doing today?

🚗 CAR — does your oc have a driver's license? can they drive/operate any automobiles/machinery besides cars?

✈️ AIRPLANE — does your oc like traveling, or do they consider themselves a more homey person?

🎮 VIDEO GAME CONTROLLER — what are three of your oc's favorite hobbies?

💍 RING — does your oc have any piercings? do they want any (more) piercings?

🖊️ BALLPOINT PEN — does your oc have any tattoos? do they want any (more) tattoos?

📚 BOOKS — what level of education has your oc most recently completed/is currently in (GED, undergraduate, grad school, phd, etc)?

🎻 VIOLIN — does your oc play any instruments? what is their skill level (beginner/intermediate/advanced/virtuoso/etc)?

🩹 ADHESIVE BANDAGE — does your oc have any physical and/or mental disabilities?

🩸 DROP OF BLOOD — what is your oc's blood type?

Please and thank you!

Ahhhh, I’m doing great, I get to talk about my blorbos now!! You sent so many, thank you!!! 💙💙💙

🚗 CAR — does your oc have a driver's license? can they drive/operate any automobiles/machinery besides cars?

Josh: Just has his drivers license, but he hates driving with a passion. He lives in NYC most the time, so it’s easy for him to walk, or skateboard where he needs to go. Or he’ll Uber.

Keegan: has their drivers license and their motorcycle endorsement. They’ve gotten used to riding with Josh around, but they’re wary of letting anyone else ride with them on their bike because it takes them a minute to get used to the weight/balance.

Liv: Drivers license, but like Josh she never uses it. Her girlfriend doesn’t have a license at all. So they are also both frequent Uber users.

Elijah: Dad of the group. He’s been driving Josh around since first getting his license at sixteen, so yeah he has his drivers license. He’s also helped drive the tour bus a few times, but only because he’s lowkey a control freak.

✈️ AIRPLANE — does your oc like traveling, or do they consider themselves a more homey person?

Josh: thought he would like traveling more than he does. When the band was small at the beginning he didn’t mind it all that much, but now that they hardly ever stop going he’s getting a bit exhausted by it all. He’s definitely becoming a homebody

Keegan: if they weren’t in the band they’d be backpacking across the world. They love getting to see new places, and meeting new people. Their apartment is barely decorated and they’re crashing at Josh’s place half the time anyway, so they definitely prefer travel.

Liv: couch surfs, ties herself to nothing. She is the type of friend to impulsively book plane tickets at 1:00 a.m. because she wanted to try an ice cream store in Oklahoma.

Elijah: You physically have to pry him off the couch. This man is married, and a father, he wants nothing more than to be able to stay at his home for longer than a week. He is tired, let him rest. Absolutely not into traveling.

🎮 VIDEO GAME CONTROLLER — what are three of your oc's favorite hobbies?

Josh: Writing, reading, entertaining the ever present existential dread.

Keegan: bike rides, baking, (kissing Josh) knitting

Liv: skateboarding, drumming, taking care of her and her girlfriends rapidly growing collection of plants.

Elijah: sleep, sleep, and sleep. But also playing with his kids, piano, and wine and paint nights with his wife.

💍 RING — does your oc have any piercings? do they want any (more) piercings?

Josh: yes, and yes! He has his ears pierced, nose pierced and he’s joked to Keegan about getting his nipples pierced. It is maybe becoming not a joke.

Keegan: also yes! Their ears are pierced as well and they wanted a septum piercing, but people keep telling them it hurts, so they get psyched out.

Liv: Yes, and absolutely always. Multiple ear piercings, nose piercing, belly button piercing. She practically lives at the tattoo parlor.

Elijah: just one ear pierced, and only because he took Josh to get his ears pierced for his thirteenth birthday and Josh convinced him to get matching earrings. His wife thinks he would look good with a helix piercing though, so he’s considering.

🖊️ BALLPOINT PEN — does your oc have any tattoos? do they want any (more) tattoos?

Josh: he’s got his dads initials on the inside of his left wrist, written in his hand writing. And some cheap $13 doodle of a cat on his left forearm that he got on Friday the 13th. He doesn’t want anymore.

Keegan: No, and they’re not really looking to get one.

Liv: surprisingly only one, crossed drumsticks on her right forearm. She got it at the same time Josh got the cat.

Elijah: yeah, he got tattoos to cover his top surgery scars. And because he’s got religious trauma it’s something like this:

Anytime the band does magazine interviews they’re always wanting to photograph Elijah shirtless. He’s always firmly putting his foot down, and he’s nice in interviews, but the second they request he gets real closed off.

📚 BOOKS — what level of education has your oc most recently completed/is currently in (GED, undergraduate, grad school, phd, etc)?

Josh: high school diploma. He was taking a gap year and working on the whole music thing. Luckily it worked out, because he had zero interest in going to college.

Keegan: high school diploma and one semesters worth of a marketing degree

Liv: Half an English degree. Dropped out the second Elijah offered her a spot in the band.

Elijah: English degree, and he was working on his masters. He was the TA in Liv’s English class, which was how he met her.

🎻 VIOLIN — does your oc play any instruments? what is their skill level (beginner/intermediate/advanced/virtuoso/etc)?

Josh: yep! He’s the guitarist for the band and also does backing vocals.

Keegan: they play bass occasionally and they’re the lead singer!

Liv: Drums, and she’s stupid good at it. Also played triangle in middle school band.

Elijah: played piano growing up, morphed into keyboard.

🩹 ADHESIVE BANDAGE — does your oc have any physical and/or mental disabilities?

Josh: the limit does not exist. Jk, but also yes. Anxiety, depression, adhd, bipolar, he simply is going through it. Half the time it’s untreated too, so he’s just constantly rawdogging life like that “this is fine” dog on fire meme.

Keegan: anxiety. Like picking at the skin around your nails until they bleed, thinking twenty steps ahead, panic attack levels anxiety. They’re chill tho.

Liv: ambiguous disorder. Probably most definitely adhd.

Elijah: also undiagnosed, but something is for sure happening. He’s never really had time to deal with anything though because his focus has always been Josh.

🩸 DROP OF BLOOD — what is your oc's blood type?

Not a clue, but I’ll tell you Josh and Elijah certainly don’t share a blood type or else someone would still be alive.

[ongolecharles]

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS (DSR) 📚 Group, Mon Sept 02nd, 2024 ... Monday of the Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time, Year B

Reading 1

---------

1 COR 2:1-5

When I came to you, brothers and sisters,

proclaiming the mystery of God,

I did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom.

For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you

except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling,

and my message and my proclamation

were not with persuasive words of wisdom,

but with a demonstration of spirit and power,

so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom

but on the power of God.

Responsorial Psalm

---------------

PS 119:97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102 

R. (97) Lord, I love your commands.

How I love your law, O LORD!

It is my meditation all the day.

R. Lord, I love your commands.

Your command has made me wiser than my enemies,

 for it is ever with me.

R. Lord, I love your commands.

I have more understanding than all my teachers

when your decrees are my meditation.

R.  Lord, I love your commands.

I have more discernment than the elders,

because I observe your precepts.

R. Lord, I love your commands.

From every evil way I withhold my feet,

that I may keep your words.

R. Lord, I love your commands.

From your ordinances I turn not away,

for you have instructed me.

R. Lord, I love your commands.

Alleluia

---------

LK 4:18

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me;

he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

---------

LK 4:16-30

Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had grown up,

and went according to his custom

into the synagogue on the sabbath day.

He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.

He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me

to bring glad tidings to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives

and recovery of sight to the blind,

to let the oppressed go free,

and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.

Rolling up the scroll,

he handed it back to the attendant and sat down,

and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.

He said to them,

“Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”

And all spoke highly of him

and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.

They also asked, “Is this not the son of Joseph?”

He said to them, “Surely you will quote me this proverb,

‘Physician, cure yourself,’ and say, ‘Do here in your native place

the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.’”

And he said,

“Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place.

Indeed, I tell you,

there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah

when the sky was closed for three and a half years

and a severe famine spread over the entire land.

It was to none of these that Elijah was sent,

but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon.

Again, there were many lepers in Israel

during the time of Elisha the prophet;

yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”

When the people in the synagogue heard this,

they were all filled with fury.

They rose up, drove him out of the town,

and led him to the brow of the hill

on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong.

But he passed through the midst of them and went away.

***

FOCUS AND LITURGY OF THE WORD

When my daughter was very young a nighttime ritual included the reading of a book of bible stories for children. One of our favorites was the story of Naaman the Syrian. (In our liturgy the full story of Naaman is in the morning readings, 2 Kings 5:9-14) It helps us to understand more fully today’s Gospel, so I will summarize it here. Naaman is not an Israelite but a foreigner, a Syrian. He is a wealthy, powerful man, not given to nonsense. You can picture him in all his regalia, pulling up to the door of the prophet Elisha, reining in his horses, his chariot stopping in a great cloud of dust. Already he has humbled himself to go to this foreign prophet’s simple abode, seeking a cure for the leprosy that disfigures and threatens his power, his very survival. Elisha seemingly insults him by not appearing in person to lay hands on him, cure him. Instead, he sends a messenger to tell him to do something totally ridiculous. Unimaginable. Beneath him. "Go and wash seven times in the Jordan and your flesh will heal, and you will be clean” are the instructions from the messenger.

Fuming, Naaman mutters that his native rivers are just as good as the Israelite river Jordan. I'm out of here .  But hear this! His servants come and reason with him that since the prophet could have told him something extraordinary and Naaman would have followed those instructions but instead the prophet told him something simple, he should do it. The servants were correct. Words from the humble are wise. So Naaman plunges seven times in the Jordan and his flesh is clean - he can now safely be welcomed into his community and exercise what we hope is a humbled power.

The Gospel takes us a step further in trust and faith. While Naaman rested his faith on the humble servants and the messenger of the prophet, Jesus tells us through the writings of Paul our faith may rest on the power of God. He recalls for us the healings that God worked through the faith of foreigners although there were many in Israel in need of healing. The drama in  this Gospel has Jesus reading from the Torah in front of the usual crowd in the synagogue on the sabbath. He reads from Isaiah the famous passage of healings, healings by the Messiah and not a prophet. He claims the scripture passage is fulfilled this day in the hearing of those assembled, and returns to his seat. Again, fury! The congregation rises up and drives Jesus out of town to a high precipice where they intend to push him to his death for what they thought was blasphemy, claiming to be the Son of God. Jesus slips away. His time had not yet come.

The lessons I drew from the readings and Gospel called me to hear advice from the humble, but also to listen always for that quiet whispering voice of God giving me what I might mistake for ridiculous guidance (washing in the Jordan?) but to discern God’s wisdom and caring for me in unsuspected ways. I don’t mean hearing voices, just being attentive to the Spirit whose word is peace. To embrace humility and place my faith and trust in God alone.To bring the healing of peace and comfort to those I meet every day. To offer each person I meet a gift of joy or consolation, to ask their name and use it.

***

SAINT OF THE DAY

Blessed John Francis Burte and Companions

(d. September 2, 1792 and January 21, 1794)

Blessed John Francis Burté’s and Companions’ Stories

These priests were victims of the French Revolution. Though their martyrdom spans a period of several years, they stand together in the Church’s memory because they all gave their lives for the same principle. In 1791, the Civil Constitution of the Clergy required all priests to take an oath which amounted to a denial of the faith. Each of these men refused and was executed.

John Francis Burté became a Franciscan at 16 and after ordination taught theology to the young friars. Later he was guardian of the large Conventual friary in Paris until he was arrested and held in the convent of the Carmelites.

Appolinaris of Posat was born in 1739 in Switzerland. He joined the Capuchins and acquired a reputation as an excellent preacher, confessor, and instructor of clerics. Preparing for his assignment to the East as a missionary, he was in Paris studying Oriental languages when the French Revolution began. Refusing the oath, he was swiftly arrested and detained in the Carmelite convent.

Severin Girault, a member of the Third Order Regular, was a chaplain for a group of sisters in Paris. Imprisoned with the others, he was the first to die in the slaughter at the convent.

These three plus 182 others—including several bishops and many religious and diocesan priests—were massacred at the Carmelite house in Paris on September 2, 1792. They were beatified in 1926.

Born in 1737, John Baptist Triquerie became a Conventual Franciscan. He was the chaplain and confessor of Poor Clare monasteries in three cities before he was arrested for refusing to take the oath. He and 13 diocesan priests were martyred in Laval on January 21, 1794. He was beatified in 1955.

Reflection

-----------

“Liberty, Equality, Fraternity” was the motto of the French Revolution. If individuals have “inalienable rights,” as the Declaration of Independence states, these must come not from the agreement of society—which can be very fragile—but directly from God. Do we believe that? Do we act on it?

***

【Build your Faith in Christ Jesus on #dailyscripturereadingsgroup 📚: +256 751 540 524 .. Whatsapp】

[bookgeekgrrl]

My media this week (17-23 Apr 2022)

📚 STUFF I READ 📚

😍👂 A Closed and Common Orbit (Wayfarers #2) (Becky Chambers, author; Rachel Dulude, narrator)

😊 A Suitable Consort [For the King and His Husband] (R. Cooper) - precisely what it says on the tin; entertaining, I do love an oblivious academic being wooed

😍👂 Record Of A Space Born Few (Wayfarers #3) (Becky Chambers, author; Rachel Dulude, narrator)

😍👂 The Galaxy, and the Ground Within (Wayfarers #4) (Becky Chambers, author; Rachel Dulude, narrator) - I love every single book in this series but this one is probably my fave, if only because of the 'cheese discussion' scene.

💖💖+184K of shorter fic so shout out to these I really loved 💖💖

Cheek to Cheek (liloau) - MCU: shrunkyclunks, 10K - mmm, love the angst in a touch-starved, recently defrosted Steve Rogers

Through The Open Window (74days) - MCU: Stucky, 28K - wartime AU

The Best Revenge (BewareTheIdes15) - OFMD: BlackBonnet, 7K - ffffuuuuccckkkk this was HOT 🔥🔥🔥

Aftershave (samanthahirr) - TMFU: Illya/Gaby/Napoleon, 4K - yes, good, way to show an erotic shaving

Gold Asgardians and Other Poisons (HandsAcrossTheSea) - MCU: Stucky+Thor, 7K - another one that's hot hot hot 🔥🔥🔥 - I wish there was more with this threesome!

lay me down (tell me i've been found) (coffeeinallcaps) - MCU: Stucky, 25K - forever fave, fluffy, utterly indulgent D/s AU

📺 STUFF I WATCHED 📺

Sense8 - s2, e8-12

Abbott Elementary - s1, e1-13

Hot Ones - Elijah Wood

Heartstopper - s1, e1-8

🎧 PODCASTS🎧

This is Good for You - Ep 29: Our One Year Anniversary!!

Overinvested - Ep. 254: Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

The Atlas Obscura Podcast - The Ends of the World

Desert Island Discs - Alan Cumming, actor

Shedunnit Book Club - The Detective's Best Friend

The Atlas Obscura Podcast - Gnomesville

Partners - Robert Plant & Alison Krauss

The Atlas Obscura Podcast - The Louis Armstrong House Museum

The Atlas Obscura Podcast - Bloody Island

You're Dead To Me - Young Napoleon

Endless Thread - The Faker

Overinvested - Ep. 255: Our Flag Means Death

🎶 MUSIC 🎶

CREDITS: Diane Warren

'90s Dance Crossover

Sub-Radio

Pop-Punk Party-Starters

Presenting Etta James

Red Hot Chili Peppers

The Biggest Beats

[lis-likes-fics]

lokis-favorite-follower’s sleepover

hello, everyone! so i’ve been wanting to do a follower celebration here for a while, but i never got around to doing it. but now that i can, i am happy to announce a sleepover on this blog in celebration of 1.5k followers!

before we get started, i would very much like to thank those of you who have supported my writing through likes, reblogs, and (most importantly, in my opinion) feedback. i would also like to make some honorable mentions for those of you who have really motivated me through my writing. it will be a long mention, so feel free to skip to (*) if you need.

@natasha-danvers: i’d like to thank you for your lovely comments/reblogs on my fics! i always look forward to posting my natasha/wanda fics because i can count on some really fun/nice words from you

@the-nerdy-goddess​: i want to thank you for the feedback you’ve given on things like book covers or ideas for fics, as well as simply being someone i can vent to when i need it. you’ve been a great friend to talk to, and i’m glad we know each other.

@lokistan: you’ve been a pleasure to talk to, and i’m glad we’ve been able to talk and chat as much as we have in the time that i’ve been here.

@shiningloki: i just want to say that i’ve really enjoyed your stories, and i’m always super excited to share loki things with you whenever they happen to pop up. you’ve been a great inspiration to me and a lovely writer, and i can’t wait to see what else i see of you.

@worstloki: i love your posts. your tags are amazing and the things you come up with have always been really fun for me to read. thanks for sharing your thoughts with us!

@idkxwriting: i can’t even begin to express how much i enjoy your writing. your fics are amazing and i always look forward to the next project (especially your elijah fics, it’s so hard to find really good ones sometimes, and you never fail to entertain me!) thank you so much for sharing your writing with us!

@life-on-needs @kaminochan706706: you guys are amazing. as close irl friends, i always look forward to seeing/talking to you. i’m not gonna get sappy on you because you’d never let me live it down, so i’ll just leave you with a heart. <3

@maysdigitalarts: i’d like to thank you again for the dividers you have created on your blog and the ones you have customized for me. they are amazing and i can’t wait to continue to use them. thank you so much!

of course, there are many others who have not been mentioned/tagged, but they are just as much cherished as the rest of you. thank you so much for your support and love, i’m so glad to have it. now without further adieu, let’s get into it!

*

(fandoms available for sleepover: the originals, the vampire diaries, twilight, teen wolf, marvel)

⚓ships: send me a description about yourself and i'll ship you with a character!

👑headcanon: send me a character and a scenario/situation and i'll write how they would react/what they would do (short ones)

🎉shuffle: send me this emoji and i'll shuffle my playlist and give you the first song that comes up

🧨fmk: send me three characters and i'll choose who to fuck, marry, and kill

🤔would you rather/this or that: send me two options and i have to pick one of them

⭐character association: send me one or two facts about yourself, and i'll tell you what character you remind me of

✨aesthetic: give me a vibe and a character and i’ll make an aesthetic for them

🎶song association: send me this emoji and a character and i'll give you a song that reminds me of them

🎵song recommendations: tell me about yourself and i’ll give you a song that reminds me of you

📚book covers: need a bookcover for a fic? send me an ask with what you need it for, what you want on it (title, quote?), colors and the overall vibe, and i will do my best to make it for you

🥵spice: give me a character and i’ll give you some spicy thoughts/headcanons about them

😈spicy: give me a spicy thought/headcanon and i’ll tell you which character i think it associates most with

*

this sleepover will be open from May 21, 2022 - June 22, 2022, so claim these fast before they run out! thank you and have fun!

also! whenever you reblog/post something for this celebration, please use the tag #lokis favorite sleepover! thank you again!

[galvanizedfriend]

MY BAD I PRESSED UNFOLLOW AGAIN, SOZZZ

💌 A fic that inspired you to create something for it

🤩 A fic that made you SLAM that “subscribe” button

📚 A fic you wish you could display on your bookshelf

Ennie stop unfollowing me challenge!

Hi, patootie! ❤️❤️

💌 A fic that inspired you to create something for it I have made edits for fics in the past, but the most recent one was for Quiet Light by @definedareasofuncertainty! It was a Caroline/Elijah edit, ok. 🥲

🤩 A fic that made you SLAM that “subscribe” button Another one then: Colored you in by @lalainajanes. I remember reading that story before it was finished and spending weeks thinking about it between updates. It's so good and so light-hearted and so delicious! And then everything else I read by the author after made me cry with how good it was!!

📚 A fic you wish you could display on your bookshelf Paradise Lost by Borzoi. It actually *feels* like reading a book, so it would be perfect.

Thank you for your asks, patootiest! ❤️

[ongole]

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS (DSR) 📚 GROUP, Thu Sept 22nd, 2022...Thursday of the Twenty Fifth week in Ordinary Time, Year C

▪︎【Read God's Word daily on "DSR 📚 GROUPS"' WhatsApp Tel. +256751540524】

Reading 1

---------

ECCL 1:2-11

Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth,

vanity of vanities!  All things are vanity!

What profit has man from all the labor

which he toils at under the sun?

One generation passes and another comes,

but the world forever stays.

The sun rises and the sun goes down;

then it presses on to the place where it rises.

Blowing now toward the south, then toward the north,

the wind turns again and again, resuming its rounds.

All rivers go to the sea,

yet never does the sea become full.

To the place where they go,

the rivers keep on going.

All speech is labored;

there is nothing one can say.

The eye is not satisfied with seeing

nor is the ear satisfied with hearing.

What has been, that will be;

what has been done, that will be done.

Nothing is new under the sun.

Even the thing of which we say, “See, this is new!”

has already existed in the ages that preceded us.

There is no remembrance of the men of old;

nor of those to come will there be any remembrance

among those who come after them.

 

Responsorial Psalm

---------------

PS 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 AND 17BC

R. (1)  In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.

You turn man back to dust,

saying, “Return, O children of men.”

For a thousand years in your sight

are as yesterday, now that it is past,

or as a watch of the night.

R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.

You make an end of them in their sleep;

the next morning they are like the changing grass,

Which at dawn springs up anew,

but by evening wilts and fades.

R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.

Teach us to number our days aright,

that we may gain wisdom of heart.

Return, O LORD!  How long?

Have pity on your servants!

R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.

Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,

that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.

Prosper the work of our hands for us!

Prosper the work of our hands!

R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.

Alleluia

-------

JN 14:6

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord;

no one comes to the Father except through me.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

-------

LK 9:7-9

Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening,

and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying,

“John has been raised from the dead”;

others were saying, “Elijah has appeared”;

still others, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen.”

But Herod said, “John I beheaded.

Who then is this about whom I hear such things?”

And he kept trying to see him.

***

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS (DSR) 📚 GROUP, Thu Sept 22nd, 2022...Thursday of the Twenty Fifth week in Ordinary Time, Year C

FOCUS AND LITURGY OF THE WORD

"Nothing is new under the sun."

In our First Reading today, we continue to hear from the Wisdom Literature of the Old Testament.  But we are not still hearing from the Book of Proverbs.  We hear today through Saturday from the Book of Ecclesiastes.

Ecclesiastes is probably best known for its opening verses, from the very first chapter, from which we have heard today.  The writer of this book, who is named Qoheleth, is talking about the uselessness, or vanity, of things in this world.  We hear:  “Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, vanity of vanities!  All things are vanity!”  We might wonder why God would want a book like this in the Bible.

This book is not Manichaean in nature.  That is, it’s not arguing that life itself, or creation in general, is evil.  We can profitably focus upon this book by focusing upon the meaning of the word “vanity”.  Not all vanity comes from looking in a mirror.

Here is the question that all seven books of the Wisdom Literature of the Old Testament concerns themselves with:  which things can help us get to Heaven, and which things cannot?  The things in this world that cannot help us get to Heaven are vain:  they are vanities.  They may have some meaning and value, but in the end, that meaning or value is going to pass away.  The more we hold on to them, the more of our own self that will pass away.

***

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS (DSR) 📚 GROUP, Thu Sept 22nd, 2022...Thursday of the Twenty Fifth week in Ordinary Time, Year C...SAINT OF THE DAY

Saint Lorenzo Ruiz and Companions

Saint Lorenzo Ruiz and Companions (1600 - Sep 29 or 30, 1637)

Saint Lorenzo Ruiz and Companions' Story

Lorenzo was born in Manila of a Chinese father and a Filipino mother, both Christians. Thus he learned Chinese and Tagalog from them, and Spanish from the Dominicans whom he served as altar boy and sacristan. He became a professional calligrapher, transcribing documents in beautiful penmanship. He was a full member of the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary under Dominican auspices. He married and had two sons and a daughter.

Lorenzo's life took an abrupt turn when he was accused of murder. Nothing further is known except the statement of two Dominicans that “he was sought by the authorities on account of a homicide to which he was present or which was attributed to him.”

At that time, three Dominican priests, Antonio Gonzalez, Guillermo Courtet, and Miguel de Aozaraza, were about to sail to Japan in spite of a violent persecution there. With them was a Japanese priest, Vicente Shiwozuka de la Cruz, and a layman named Lazaro, a leper. Lorenzo, having taken asylum with them, was allowed to accompany them. But only when they were at sea did he learn that they were going to Japan.

They landed at Okinawa. Lorenzo could have gone on to Formosa, but, he reported, “I decided to stay with the Fathers, because the Spaniards would hang me there.” In Japan they were soon found out, arrested, and taken to Nagasaki. The site of wholesale bloodshed when the atomic bomb was dropped had known tragedy before. The 50,000 Catholics who once lived there were dispersed or killed by persecution.

They were subjected to an unspeakable kind of torture: After huge quantities of water were forced down their throats, they were made to lie down. Long boards were placed on their stomachs and guards then stepped on the ends of the boards, forcing the water to spurt violently from mouth, nose and ears.

The superior, Fr. Gonzalez, died after some days. Both Fr. Shiwozuka and Lazaro broke under torture, which included the insertion of bamboo needles under their fingernails. But both were brought back to courage by their companions.

In Lorenzo’s moment of crisis, he asked the interpreter, “I would like to know if, by apostatizing, they will spare my life.” The interpreter was noncommittal, but in the ensuing hours Lorenzo felt his faith grow strong. He became bold, even audacious, with his interrogators.

The five were put to death by being hanged upside down in pits. Boards fitted with semi-circular holes were fitted around their waists and stones put on top to increase the pressure. They were tightly bound, to slow circulation and prevent a speedy death. They were allowed to hang for three days. By that time Lorenzo and Lazaro were dead. Still alive, the three priests were then beheaded.

In 1987, Pope John Paul II canonized these six and 10 others: Asians and Europeans, men and women, who spread the faith in the Philippines, Formosa, and Japan. Lorenzo Ruiz is the first canonized Filipino martyr. The liturgical feast of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz and Companions is celebrated on September 28.

Reflection

----------

We ordinary Christians of today—how would we stand up in the circumstances these martyrs faced? We sympathize with the two who temporarily denied the faith. We understand Lorenzo’s terrible moment of temptation. But we see also the courage—inexplainable in human terms—which surged from their store of faith. Martyrdom, like ordinary life, is a miracle of grace.

***

[bibliobethblog]

Don’t you just love it when a book comes out of nowhere and surprises you? That’s exactly what Where Women Are Kings did to me. I’ve had it on my TBR for ahem…some years but saw there was an audiobook and thought I’d listen to it instead. Now this book is up on my favourites shelf and I can’t wait to experience it by reading instead of listening in a few years of so. ⁣ ⁣ This is the story of Nikki and Obi who have been struggling to have children for some time. They are keen to try adoption and are matched up with a little boy originally from Nigeria called Elijah. Elijah has had a difficult upbringing with his birth mother Deborah and is removed from her care. ⁣ ⁣ There are behavioural concerns with Elijah but as well as coping with this, Nikki is concerned about raising her son being Caucasian and wants to do the right thing for him. Then something unprecedented occurs that rocks the family unit and may threaten all their hopes and dreams. ⁣ ⁣ The narration of this audiobook by Adjoa Andoh is perfection. Her talent at shifting between different accents is unbelievable and it made for a very entertaining listening experience. The story itself is utterly heartbreaking so trigger warnings galore for infertility, pregnancy loss, adoption and child abuse. ⁣ ⁣ From my own personal experience, I wholeheartedly connected with Nikki, her struggles to conceive and the losses she has suffered. I don’t think anyone can ever really understand it unless you’ve been through it yourself, the pain is indescribable. For me, it was a confronting but oddly comforting listen as a result. It made my struggles feel less alien, I felt less isolated and “seen” by an author who seemed to understand the complexity of emotions when a couple goes through these issues. ⁣ ⁣ I read this book at the right time in my life where I can be proud of myself for getting through it and grateful for what it was telling me. ⁣ ⁣ No less than the big 5 stars ⁣ ⁣ 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 #bookstagram #scottishbookstagrammer #bookreview #wherewomenarekings #christiewatson #booksaboutinfertility #booksthatspeakstothesoul #difficultreads #audiobookrecommendations #readthisbook📚 #fivestarreads2022 #mustreadbooks✍️ https://www.instagram.com/p/CiLECjcLpv_/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[elejahforever]

Thank you for the tag @klaroline-4ever

Three ships - Elejah (Elena/Elijah from TVD), Ness (Nick/Jess from New Girl), and Bangel (Buffy/Angel from Buffy the vampire slayer)

Last Song -

Last Movie - A Quiet Place II 😅

Currently Watching - A discovery of witches and Lucifer.

Currently reading - My college course books 📚 🤣

Currently Craving - 🍨 Ice cream it's too hot here.

Tagging @eternityunicorn @elejahfanfic

Thank you for tagging me @1jemmagirl22

Three Ships: Mondler (Monica&Chandler from FRIENDS), Klaroline (Klaus&Caroline from TVD/TO) and Gallavich (Ian&Mickey from Shameless)

Last Song: Connection by OneRepublic

Last Movie: Flashback (only bc it had Dylan O’Brien)

Currently Watching: Friends and many other shows but the one I watch almost every day is FRIENDS

Currently Reading: Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie (I know it’s an old and very known book but please don’t give me any spoilers)

Currently Craving: Chocolate. I’ve been trying to eat healthier and working out and it sucks… I admire who likes to work out and be healthy

Tagging: @elejah-wonderland @eternityunicorn @elejahforever @lilacsandorangeblossoms @lovelyandproblematic @loophole2000 and whoever would like to do this 

[ongole]

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS (DSR) 📚 GROUP, Thu Sept 22nd, 2022...Thursday of the Twenty Fifth week in Ordinary Time, Year C

▪︎【Read God's Word daily on "DSR 📚 GROUPS"' WhatsApp Tel. +256751540524】

Reading 1

---------

ECCL 1:2-11

Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth,

vanity of vanities!  All things are vanity!

What profit has man from all the labor

which he toils at under the sun?

One generation passes and another comes,

but the world forever stays.

The sun rises and the sun goes down;

then it presses on to the place where it rises.

Blowing now toward the south, then toward the north,

the wind turns again and again, resuming its rounds.

All rivers go to the sea,

yet never does the sea become full.

To the place where they go,

the rivers keep on going.

All speech is labored;

there is nothing one can say.

The eye is not satisfied with seeing

nor is the ear satisfied with hearing.

What has been, that will be;

what has been done, that will be done.

Nothing is new under the sun.

Even the thing of which we say, “See, this is new!”

has already existed in the ages that preceded us.

There is no remembrance of the men of old;

nor of those to come will there be any remembrance

among those who come after them.

 

Responsorial Psalm

---------------

PS 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 AND 17BC

R. (1)  In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.

You turn man back to dust,

saying, “Return, O children of men.”

For a thousand years in your sight

are as yesterday, now that it is past,

or as a watch of the night.

R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.

You make an end of them in their sleep;

the next morning they are like the changing grass,

Which at dawn springs up anew,

but by evening wilts and fades.

R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.

Teach us to number our days aright,

that we may gain wisdom of heart.

Return, O LORD!  How long?

Have pity on your servants!

R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.

Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,

that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.

Prosper the work of our hands for us!

Prosper the work of our hands!

R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.

Alleluia

-------

JN 14:6

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord;

no one comes to the Father except through me.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

-------

LK 9:7-9

Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening,

and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying,

“John has been raised from the dead”;

others were saying, “Elijah has appeared”;

still others, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen.”

But Herod said, “John I beheaded.

Who then is this about whom I hear such things?”

And he kept trying to see him.

***

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS (DSR) 📚 GROUP, Thu Sept 22nd, 2022...Thursday of the Twenty Fifth week in Ordinary Time, Year C

FOCUS AND LITURGY OF THE WORD

"Nothing is new under the sun."

In our First Reading today, we continue to hear from the Wisdom Literature of the Old Testament.  But we are not still hearing from the Book of Proverbs.  We hear today through Saturday from the Book of Ecclesiastes.

Ecclesiastes is probably best known for its opening verses, from the very first chapter, from which we have heard today.  The writer of this book, who is named Qoheleth, is talking about the uselessness, or vanity, of things in this world.  We hear:  “Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, vanity of vanities!  All things are vanity!”  We might wonder why God would want a book like this in the Bible.

This book is not Manichaean in nature.  That is, it’s not arguing that life itself, or creation in general, is evil.  We can profitably focus upon this book by focusing upon the meaning of the word “vanity”.  Not all vanity comes from looking in a mirror.

Here is the question that all seven books of the Wisdom Literature of the Old Testament concerns themselves with:  which things can help us get to Heaven, and which things cannot?  The things in this world that cannot help us get to Heaven are vain:  they are vanities.  They may have some meaning and value, but in the end, that meaning or value is going to pass away.  The more we hold on to them, the more of our own self that will pass away.

***

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS (DSR) 📚 GROUP, Thu Sept 22nd, 2022...Thursday of the Twenty Fifth week in Ordinary Time, Year C...SAINT OF THE DAY

Saint Lorenzo Ruiz and Companions

Saint Lorenzo Ruiz and Companions (1600 - Sep 29 or 30, 1637)

Saint Lorenzo Ruiz and Companions' Story

Lorenzo was born in Manila of a Chinese father and a Filipino mother, both Christians. Thus he learned Chinese and Tagalog from them, and Spanish from the Dominicans whom he served as altar boy and sacristan. He became a professional calligrapher, transcribing documents in beautiful penmanship. He was a full member of the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary under Dominican auspices. He married and had two sons and a daughter.

Lorenzo's life took an abrupt turn when he was accused of murder. Nothing further is known except the statement of two Dominicans that “he was sought by the authorities on account of a homicide to which he was present or which was attributed to him.”

At that time, three Dominican priests, Antonio Gonzalez, Guillermo Courtet, and Miguel de Aozaraza, were about to sail to Japan in spite of a violent persecution there. With them was a Japanese priest, Vicente Shiwozuka de la Cruz, and a layman named Lazaro, a leper. Lorenzo, having taken asylum with them, was allowed to accompany them. But only when they were at sea did he learn that they were going to Japan.

They landed at Okinawa. Lorenzo could have gone on to Formosa, but, he reported, “I decided to stay with the Fathers, because the Spaniards would hang me there.” In Japan they were soon found out, arrested, and taken to Nagasaki. The site of wholesale bloodshed when the atomic bomb was dropped had known tragedy before. The 50,000 Catholics who once lived there were dispersed or killed by persecution.

They were subjected to an unspeakable kind of torture: After huge quantities of water were forced down their throats, they were made to lie down. Long boards were placed on their stomachs and guards then stepped on the ends of the boards, forcing the water to spurt violently from mouth, nose and ears.

The superior, Fr. Gonzalez, died after some days. Both Fr. Shiwozuka and Lazaro broke under torture, which included the insertion of bamboo needles under their fingernails. But both were brought back to courage by their companions.

In Lorenzo’s moment of crisis, he asked the interpreter, “I would like to know if, by apostatizing, they will spare my life.” The interpreter was noncommittal, but in the ensuing hours Lorenzo felt his faith grow strong. He became bold, even audacious, with his interrogators.

The five were put to death by being hanged upside down in pits. Boards fitted with semi-circular holes were fitted around their waists and stones put on top to increase the pressure. They were tightly bound, to slow circulation and prevent a speedy death. They were allowed to hang for three days. By that time Lorenzo and Lazaro were dead. Still alive, the three priests were then beheaded.

In 1987, Pope John Paul II canonized these six and 10 others: Asians and Europeans, men and women, who spread the faith in the Philippines, Formosa, and Japan. Lorenzo Ruiz is the first canonized Filipino martyr. The liturgical feast of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz and Companions is celebrated on September 28.

Reflection

----------

We ordinary Christians of today—how would we stand up in the circumstances these martyrs faced? We sympathize with the two who temporarily denied the faith. We understand Lorenzo’s terrible moment of temptation. But we see also the courage—inexplainable in human terms—which surged from their store of faith. Martyrdom, like ordinary life, is a miracle of grace.

***