Lucy, Puddleglum, and Lasaraleen

My family and I established that I have been exposed to The Chronicles of Narnia since I was 3 years old. It all began when we lived in Yemen. Our nightly routine consisted of us piling on mom and dad's bed and listening to daddy do his best rendition of Clive Staples' fantastical stories.
If I am asked about books that I love, Narnia is one of my answers. I love the imagination in the stories. My mom always allowed us to shape our imagination instead of watching tv when we were younger. If you could only hear some of the crazy tales I created playing in my room...oh boy! Now, at 20 years old, I would like to BE some of those that have already been created.  I have a looooong list of those characters, but I will share 3 of my VERY favorites. They all come from Narnia.

1. Lucy Pevensie
2. Puddleglum the Marshwiggle
3. Lasaraleen the Calormene Tarkheena
I think that these three are some of my favorites because all three characters are found in my three favorite books of the Chronicles: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, The Silver Chair, and The Horse and His Boy

1. I love Lucy because of her consistent child-like faith. Jesus told us that we cannot enter the kingdom of Heaven unless we come like a little child. Lewis developed this little girl who understands blind faith. Lucy understands trusting Aslan, but I don't think "understands" is the right word. She just does it. Children are not bombarded with the weight of the world in their minds like we as older individuals wrestle with daily. They simply trust. Even when her older brothers and sisters doubt the existence of Narnia or that Aslan is ready to help in Prince Caspian, she works so hard to stand firm. In Prince Caspian Lucy believes and her eyes of faith are opened to Aslan's beautiful and majestic presence, while the others are blinded by fear. She wavers for a time because no one else believes that she is actually seeing Aslan. Can we, as real life sinful human beings, blame her? She's scared, but it is beautiful when Aslan corrects her and leads her back on the right path. She acknowledges her wrong and moves forward forgiven. How often I need to have the final word instead of letting go. I want to be like Lucy as I grow up.

2. I love Puddleglum because of his selfless heart. Throughout The Silver Chair he listens to Scrub and Jill complain, argue, fight, etc. He throws in his 2 cents of counsel and winds up being a drunk "respectabiggle wiggle" before literally stamping his foot and taking charge. As he forces his foot on the burning embers of the Lady of the Green Kirtle's fire, he demonstrates the courage I desire to have. I want to stand up and defy the evil in my life and stamp it out. I want to do it and not care about the cost. It may mean that the room will smell like "burnt Marshwiggle" for a time, but the healing process of the burn will be easier than the pain suffered because of the wrong. "Puddleglum did a very brave thing, even though he knew it would hurt him very much."

3. Now for the most ridiculous but one of the most lovable characters. I love Lasaraleen. She is absolutely nuts/flamboyant/crazy/hilarious/flighty, BUT she is loyal. When Shasta, Bree, Hwin, and Aravis arrive in Tashbaan, they must do their very best to conceal Aravis' identity. Who is A to meet on the street? She meets the one person who could give her way without realizing that she did. She meets Lasaraleen. As L goes on and on about dresses and fashion and the upcoming parties, Aravis holds her breath and prays that L will not speak too loudly for others to possibly hear L refer to Aravis by name. My favorite part of L's story is when she and Aravis arrive back at L's home. She threatens her entire household. She tells them that if they speak of Aravis' presence in her home they will first be "beaten to death, burned alive, and kept on bread and water for the next six weeks." How many friends do you have that would protect your life to such a degree? You can be crazy and have merit! :)

If you are confused by the references to stories and characters, there is a method to my madness. I am challenging YOU to find copies of the 7 wonderful books that make up The Chronicles of Narnia and read them ASAP. I'm pretty sure that between the 3 Brassarts and 2 Boswells, we have about 6 or 7 sets. Just give us a call!
 Lewis never meant to write the books as an allegorical story, but he wrote in such a way that we can see the Truth on just about every page. I have yet to stop wishing that the wardrobe in our guest room at home will take me to Narnia. I have yet to stop watching the movies. I have yet to stop listening to the audiobooks. I have yet to stop reading the books. My relationship with Narnia started 17 years ago and it's still going strong.
Here is my official challenge for you whether you choose to accept. Read The Chronicles of Narnia before the year 2012 has passed!

H&Ks,
Yours Truly

The It's Always Better in Pairs Challenge

This week's outfit was super fun! Here's why...

It's so much fun with the sister! Do you have a guess of who we are?

Drumroll please! bddddddddddddd!

Everyone's "favorite" devilish, conniving Siamese kitties. Erin and I are best friends and we love to have fun, but wreaking havoc everywhere we go is not Pam Brassart, our mom, approved behavior. We try to refrain even when our sneaky side rears its head.
Lady & the Tramp is one of my favorite Disney classics. I have always thought that Lady is just the prettiest, and I know that Tramp seconds my opinion. I believe it boils down to the fact that Disney knows how to make my second favorite facial feature pop. Lady's eyes and even these crazy cat's eyes are just lovely. That was just a little factoid.
They didn't have their own little bio on wiki, but if you watch the movie, you will know all there is to know about these manipulative felines.

The Character(s): The Siamese Cats

The Outfit: Black pants from Target 2010
                  Gold shirt from TJ Max 2011
                  Gold glitter shoes from Target 2011
                  Black and gold headband (that you can't really see) from my sweet Mamichka 2011

The Disneybound Inspiration:

Erin and I will be partnering in the future! I hope you enjoyed the sisters sharing the love!

Love & Sparkles*

The Haati Challenge

I loved this outfit. Here you go!

Drumroll please! bdddddddddd!

The tiny self, big eared, big hearted flying Dumbo! I don't really care for the movie, but he is just precious. Just about anything is precious in baby form...EXCEPT snakes. They are NEVER cute. My sister and I have a theory about snakes, though. If they would look like our cat Gracey's furry white tale as in just a long furry cylinder without eyes or fangs, they would probably be fun to play with! Just a little factoid about the Boswell/Brassart girls. No wiki article because it didn't have a character close up.

The Character: Dumbo

The Outfit: Gray dress from Target 2010
                  Yellow Cardigan from Target 2010
                  Red Cami from New York & Company 2008
                  Silver shoes from Target 2011
                  Elephant jewelry borrowed from my good friend Kylie...                                                                                
                  You know, the one who gets on me
                  when I don't post? Yeah, that girl! :)

The Disneybound Inspiration:

The necklace:

The Flying Dumbo:

Somedays I want to be like Dumbo and fly, but a hover board would also suffice. Today was one of those days!

Love & Sparkles*

The Cutest Vegetable Challenge

So sorry I haven't been on top of things. The weather was finicky the day I wore this outfit. It was warm in the morning and then it grew cold. But, here is what I wore for the first half of the day.

Drum roll please! bddddddddddddd!

The one, the only, sassy pants Mrs. Potato Head!
She cracks me up. Please look at those lips. Diva? With high heels and purple eyeshadow, she takes on the world with all of our favorite toys! Click here for her wiki article. I know you'll want to get all dolled up like her!

The Character: Mrs. Potato Head

The Outfit: Brown dress from Target 2010
                   Purple cardigan from a boutique at the beach 2009
                   Gold belt from my mom 2012
                   Red flats from Target 2008
                   Yellow bracelet form Senegal 2003
                   Daisy earring from Papaya 2011
* The daisy earrings helped make this outfit. All of the colors needed something to tie them all together.

Disneybound Inspiration:

This is me posing like a Mrs. Potato Head. Pardon my crazy-ish hair.

I can't really think of a good potato pun to say goodbye. If you think of one, please comment!

Love & Sparkles*

Letters. A challenge for April.

Doesn't everyone enjoy getting a hand written note in the mail? I LOOOOOOOOVE getting mail. I love walking into the Mail Room looking in my box and seeing an envelope. I proceed to feverishly spin my combination. Many times I mess it up because I'm excited. Surprise, surprise! All I see is mail and that is what I want. Okay, that was very dramatic, but I think you can visualize what is going down in front of mailbox 100. 

While on choir tour, my friend, we'll call him Mr. C, and I were talking about how we both love getting letters and that formal letter writing is a lost art. What's weird is that I had been thinking about how I needed to write letters more. I casually mentioned that I might give myself a challenge for April. The challenge would be to write a letter a day. I thought about it the second after I said it, and I was thinking... Why did you just say that out loud? That's A LOT of letters. Did you think about that?... Then Mr. C said that he would join in. After that, I couldn't not do it. It's a challenge, everybody. If someone else is involved I feel more pressure. Even though we aren't competing, I want to rise to the occasion and do it. Thus, another challenge has been born for Yours Truly. So far, I have written 4 letters and I am in the process of writing my fifth. I only have 26 (almost 25) more to go. Keep your eyes peeled for an envelope from mail box 100.

Mr. C also has a blog and you can click here to see it. His blog is very insightful and not crazy like you probably think mine is! 

H&Ks,

Yours Truly

Holy Week 2009

Holy Week has begun. As I reflect on the sorrowful yet joyous journey Jesus took to the cross, I remember the awesome blessing of The Healer 2009. Anyone remember this? 

Holy Week of 2009 was an funny week for Yours Truly. I had just returned from Togo, I was jet lagging, was hungry at random times during the day, and had to get my act together, pun intended, for our upcoming passion play. Our team from Togo arrived home on Monday night. Dress rehearsal for our church's passion play, The Healer, was Wednesday, and The Healer began on Thursday. My head was spinning.
I can't reminisce The Healer without a few of these spirit lifting shots.

My child for the week. Carrying him and a water jug began to be too much for this 21st century girl. I  demoted the jug to a basket. How did those women do it?

Chilling with Jesus. I sometimes forget that part of his ministry was chilling with those he called his friends. 

"Let the little Children come unto me." I would have loved to see Jesus with little children at his feet!

Bahahahah! Daddy's face!
1. Look at his fake beard... There are no words.
2. He is doing his thing: talking to daughters.
3. He is the greatest. Just look at that picture!

I doooooooon't think they had braces at that time, but you never know!
Can we all agree that he is really cute?

That beard...oh my!

But, I cannot forget this week and THESE gripping shots.

Jesus washing Judas' feet got me every performance. He called him his disciple. How can you put a price of silver on my Savior? How often do I do that? 

 At the beginning of the rehearsal week I was nervous. I was given the opportunity to sing the final two verses of What Wondrous Love is This...as Jesus came out of the tomb. What? He is resurrecting and they want me to sing? My God blesses me beyond belief. I will be transparent with you. I was sad not to have a speaking part after cast lists were made. Part of me knew I could not have one. Our wonderful director, Mrs. Andrea, asked me if I would rather act or sing if I were given the choice. I said act, but that I would do whatever they wanted me to do/ do whatever they felt lead to give me. They felt like I should sing.
Another member of the choir and I were both given the opportunity to sing What Wondrous Love is This. He sang the first two verses as Jesus prayed to his Father in the Garden. I sang the final two versus as Jesus came out of the tomb.
I hope you know that God knows everything we need. He knew I would be sad at first. I sang a lot at church and I wanted to do something different, but He knew that I needed a lesson in faith more than I needed to speak for Him. Little did I know that I would need so much faith to sing for his glory as we portrayed his one and only Son resurrecting from the dead. I was tired mentally, emotionally, and physically, but He sang through me every performance. I look back and remind myself my Savior who cares enough about my tiny vocal chords cares even more about my sinful heart and purging me from death.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

This verse explains that he does not only want to purge my heart of sin and death. He desires yours as well. How can you refuse a God like this?

He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

We ended the evening gathered together singing Jesus Saves. I had never heard that song until rehearsal week. I have not stopped singing it since. It is true. He indeed does save, because "the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this
That caused the Lord of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul!


When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down
Beneath God’s righteous frown,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul for my soul,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul.


To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing;
To God and to the Lamb I will sing;
To God and to the Lamb,
Who is the great I AM,
While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing,
While millions join the theme, I will sing.


And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on.
And when from death I’m free
I’ll sing His love for me,
And through eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on,
And through eternity I’ll sing on.

What Wondrous Love
O my Soul*

Happy Palm Sunday,
Yours Truly

*tag added by Annie Moses