{a comment revolution}

All right. It is time to start a revolution. 

My dear Bloggers and Bloggeresses: as you all know, the primary function of a blogger to write about things. Anything, really! Their lives, life in general, movies, books, school, dancing....writing, blogging, cooking...the list goes on an on.

It is also a well known fact that we write first for our own enjoyment but also for yours. And here's the thing: it's hard to keep up a vibrant, happy, healthy little blog without what Show Biz calls "Audience Participation."

I am as guilty as the next person of sometimes looking at my update feed, reading the posts, and leaving the page without leaving a comment. Heck--sometimes without even clicking those little reaction buttons. And a favor not bestowed is a favor never returned--why am I surprised when checking the comments on this blog to find very few, if any? We do love all of our followers, but the truth is, it's so much more inspiring to write for your group of followers if they appear to be alive...not just grinning little faces labeled under "Followers." ;)

Lately I have been challenging myself to actually leave comments. To go through the laborious and eye-bending task of filling out those "Captcha" doohickeys and doing the whole shebang. And not just a "great job!" comment--a real comment!
By now you're looking at me with your eyebrow raised. "Rachel you're sounding a bit...well, I hate to notice but...a bit revolutionary!"

What I'd like to propose is a 30-day challenge for each person who reads this blog. A 30 day challenge from this last day of August through the last day of September. A challenge for each of us to comment on 50% of the blog posts you read. I know it doesn't take that long to type up a comment and leave one. Truly.

So let's make a pact? One-half of the posts you read for one month? Deal? Who's with me on this? If you *are* with me, leave a comment (!) and tell me, and then take the meme I made up there and spread it around! Love you all and hope you have a fabulous Friday!
                 -Rachel

close to falling.

It's nearly fall.

And I'm getting excited about all the fallish things I love so much.

For instance:

Fall fashion. In the cooler seasons you get to don your boots, layers, scarves, and all the pretty accessories that are more for looks than warmth. ;)

Comfortable hoodies...

And the next big one being the food! :D I absolutely love all the comfort foods and treats that you only get when the wind is blowing and then leaves are falling. :)

(my personal favorite, apple cider doughnuts!)

And freshly made apple cider is one thing that cannot be beaten. 

CARAMEL!!!!

Windy days

All the brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows.

Ah.....I'm getting myself in the mood for all of the above! 

What are some of your favorite things about autumn? :)

It's their 24th!!! :)

Happy 24th Anniversary Dad and Mom! :) 
We all love you guys so much and are blessed to have such wonderful parents who love each other and all of us a bunch! 

Ephesians 5:1-2Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Dear World {In defense of watching sunsets}

Dear, Darling,World,
     Tonight I took time to lay aside my broom in the middle of evening chores and watch the sunset. A simple thing, but one that might tell a lot about a person if you'd only listen.
It is a maxim of mine never to grow too busy to watch a sunset. You see, a person who is too busy to watch a sunset now and then is to busy to live, and if one is too busy to live, then one had much better die. It sounds harsh, yes, but if you'd only bear with me a moment longer you might understand...

What do we rush through life for but to get to the end and look back with a sigh of relief? Then it is the end you are rushing after, so go ahead and rush toward it if you will. I'm afraid I take a rather Peter-Pan-ian view of this life:
Of course I want to be in Heaven with Jesus, but I am not one of those cardboard people who think this world is rotten through and through with nothing to enjoy. Heaven will be marvelous, I know. Far better than anything I've imagined it out to be. If I knew what perfection is I'm sure I'd die here and now from sheer longing to be there. But how can one be quite certain that there will be sunsets? One cannot be certain of anything on that account because there won't need to be a sun with God's glory shining. Now wouldn't it be a shame to get to Heaven only to realize that you'd missed all the sunsets on earth? Heaven will undoubtedly have things far more beautiful than a sunset, but think of the benefits of taking a bit of time to lay aside your broom! What a longer life it might give you, just because you watched a sunset. Think of it in a logical manner:

1. You lay aside your broom, therefore you add a moment of leisure to your life that might never have existed.

2. You step out onto the porch and your skin soaks in the last rays of vitamin D while you heart and soul are fed by this beauty of the Lord's making. Right there, one has ministered to all three parts of one's body.

3. You let your mind wander a little which improves brain capacity and intelligence.

4. You watch this sunset with your senses alive to the beauty of the world--the colors flooding the sky, the sound of the frogs and crickets, the feel of the cool air against your skin. Thus your awareness of your five senses will be heightened and your dinner will taste better

5. You go back inside and you are in a happier mood.

6. You finish sweeping and probably do a much better job because now that it comes to it, you can see all those spots you missed.

7. You live your life this way, stepping outside to watch sunsets. Once you get to Heaven you see there might not be any sunsets, but there is something infinitely better--you are slightly prepared for the glory by absorbing beauty in little doses.

8. You are twice the winner--you tasted heaven on earth, and you'll recognize earth in Heaven.

So you see, watching the sunsets will extend your life, make you healthy, wealthy, and wise, and all around improve you in every manner. How the philosophers would laugh at my reasoning, but I say Let Them. I guarantee that I'll be the happier by the end of this life while they argued that I was the one in error. :)

Love Everly,

                  Rachel

Button Swap

I have the pleasure today of taking part of a very fun blog event organized by Miss Bree . My name was paired up with the (then) unfamiliar name of Blythe. It's been very fun to get to know her and to start a new bloggy friendship! So without further ado, here's my interview of her!

Hey there,

  My name is Blythe which means cheerful and I try to live up to that,I'm a 17 year old German and Irish country girl who enjoys many things,to name a few; ministry,photography,music,

hair,running barefoot,bug free evenings,walks in the backyard,atv riding,blogging and I shall not bore you any longer about myself cause,but one thing you must know about me is that I love Jesus with all my heart and one day I hope to find a godly man who does also and wants to be involved in a ministry.

 - How long have you been blogging at Raindrops? a little over 2 years.

-What are you favorite topics to blog about? Photoshoots, pinterest photography inspiration.

-What would a perfect day for you look like? Uh...hmmmm... I meet a guy fall in love and start courting...lol,jk even though that would be nice someday,but let me see the perfect day would be waking up to a sunny morning eating a gf donut with orange juice then going out with friends (roll down the windows and listen to some music.) to a 4-wheeler race tracks and racing around,then going off shopping with a $500 shopping spree buy a whole new wardrobe, go eat lunch at chipotle then go to the mall had out gospel tracks, then fly to Ireland for the evening and night and just sit on the coast with my friends and have a photoshoot. Hey,I can dream can I. :)

-Are you more of an extrovert or an introvert? An Extrovert most definitely!

-Do you play an instrument? yes, I do,the violin.

-Dark or milk chocolate? Oooo,milk. Yuck to dark it reminds me of a chocolate flavored medicine I had to take as a kid.

-How long have you been interested in photography, and why do you do it? For about 3 years I only really got into last year,this year I bought my first dslr. I do as an inspiration and a thrill of it I guess.

-What is one of your big dreams for your life?  To meet a godly young man and get hitched. :)

-Tell us 3 random things about yourself. I love adventures,I never paint my nails,I rambling (and not the amusing rambling,but the annoying kind.)

-What is your rank in your family? (age wise) I'm 5th,right in the middle. (4 older and 4 younger.)

-List one of each: your favorite singer/musician, your favorite book, and your favorite movie?

Singer: My favorite singer?? Uh,don't have one sorry.

Book: The Bible.

Movie: I don't have one of those either, I hate choosing cause I have different favorites depends on my mood and who I'm watching it with (I hate watching a movie with a group and I'm the only one who finds it amusing....awkward...)

Well there you have it! :) Thanks so much Blythe, for doing this interview with me! Everyone else make sure you pop over to Raindrops and check out more about my new friend! :) 
(and here's her interview of me: )

-Sarah