7 days of hope blog tour

August 20, 2020August 23, 2020 ~ Eve Huckabee ~ 15 Comments

This is a world of people who laugh and people who lie
And people who forget, and people who forgive,
And people who steal and people who give more than anyone will know
And people who are all of these,
Wrapped up in one sin-soaked image of Someone
Who we can’t even begin to imagine
Because the fabric of who He is
Defies what defines us.

We are magnets to what we hate in ourselves.
Yet redemption echoes in small moments
When we see that the magic of the world
Is not enough.

What a mess
Of contradictions we are.

In a world where seeing a few more stars than usual
Gives me a sudden deep breath
And a feeling that I’m rooted—that I belong,
And a feeling that maybe I forget
Some of the reasons that it is beautiful to be alive
Sometimes

I know we do not deserve more than this
But the yearning that stitches our souls together—
The hope for something beyond what our hands can hold
Reminds us that we were meant for something
We can’t fathom.

Someone loved you enough to die for you
Because He knew that was the only way to give you hope.

So if hope is a cobweb in a corner of your mind
Spend time spinning it into an idea that can almost capture
The wonder of the real thing.

jo, from livsnjotare, is shouting and waving her arms at you in the following paragraph (or maybe she’s whispering through the dark), imploring you–daring you, to hold onto that yearning that makes you human, that reminds you of what is meant to be:

but we yearn to do something good anyway. but there are people right now chanting and learning and educating and fighting for right and they’re doing amazing and there are a bunch of people signing up to teach me and a bunch of other lost, nerdy kids how to sing, how to dance, how to dream this summer, there’s stars and there’s sun and there’s a spotify playlist that is streaming truth and beauty and goodness and how, how can anyone look at this world and not realize what it could be, what it was meant to be?
my God really made some amazing things, and yes, they’re so messed up now, but even with their serious flaws they’re beautiful. that is wild. that is so wild. can you not feel that?
if the hate that fueled all these horrible people (read: all of us) to do what we’ve been doing for centuries was replaced with hearts, with love, with holy sacred rightness, what would the world look like?
idk man, but it must be… beautiful.

And sometimes, music can breathe meaning into an idea like nothing else.

“Even
After
All this time
The sun never says to the earth,

“You owe
Me.”

Look
What happens
With a love like that,
It lights the
Whole
Sky.”

Seven Billion Smiles is stop #5 on the 7 Days of Hope Blog Tour:

Day 1 (August 16) – SawyerMarie https://sundropgirls.wordpress.com/
Day 2 (August 17)- Brooklyn Elysse http:bensshowersofblessings.blogspot.com/
Day 3 (August 18)- Katja https://littleblossomsforjesus.blogspot.com/
Day 4 (August 19)- Brooklyn http://fiveshekels.wordpress.com/
Day 5 (August 20)- Emma https://sevenbillionsmiles.home.blog
Day 6 (August 21)- Ellen http://musingsbyellen.blogspot.com/
Day 7 (August 22)-Abby Elissa https://abbyelissa.blogspot.com/

Thanks, Sawyer Marie and Abby for hosting! 🙂

behind the blogger tag

June 26, 2020June 26, 2020 ~ Eve Huckabee ~ 33 Comments

Contained in this post: secret theories about Eve, secret hobbies of mine, dark secrets of my past opinions, secret thoughts, my somewhat-not-secret relationship with plants–in short, SECRETS REVEALED. *swirls magic cloak*

Behind the Blogger Tag

The Rules:

Thank the person who nominated you. Thanks, Chalice! 🙂
Answer the questions.
Pingback to the creator: Ellyn of Allonsythornraxx
Nominate 5+ bloggers to do the tag.

1. Why did you start blogging, and why have you kept blogging?

Fun fact: I started this blog simply because I came up with the name, “Seven Billion Smiles.” That name could have been used for either a children’s dentist’s office or a blog. Since I am not skilled in the art of teeth cleaning with special brushes and fancy tools beyond the basic science of brushing and flossing, I started this blog. Who knows what would have happened if had I started the dentist’s office…fanfiction is welcome and encouraged. (Disclaimer–I never actually considered going into dentistry. Evelyn brought the idea to my attention a couple weeks ago.) 😀

Before last April, I was a sort-of-secret poetry writer. After Story Embers published my poem, This is Magic, I realized that I might want to do more with poetry–more than stay huddled under my covers with a flashlight, scribbling lines that gave my heart a little glow.

Seven Billion Smiles was born last May when I was having a great time at my friend Ellie‘s house. In an impulsive moment, we created the blog and, together, created the seed of this blog. Thanks, Ellie. 🙂

I’ve kept blogging because I love how it motivates me to continue creating poetry and art. In college, I’m pursuing music/music teaching, so this blog keeps me connected with my other creative hobbies.

When I asked Eve why she keeps blogging, she gave me a little shy smile, shrugged her shoulders, fiddled with her glasses frames–“Because I like it?”

My theory: Eve keeps blogging because she literally breathes out artwork and a day doesn’t go by without another cute creation. (Then I find it, fangirl about it, and prepare the post. The rest is history.) Eve is a fabulous little artist with a crazy-beautiful imagination, and IT’S SO AMAZING TO BE ABLE TO LIVE WITH THIS TINY ARTISTE WHO IS RELATED TO ME (wow!!??).

2. What is your favorite type of blog post to write?

We have have only three types of posts: poetry, doodles, and tags. My favorite type to share is probably doodles because they make me happy to look at them. 🙂

3. What are your top three favourite blog posts?

this is how, penny for your thoughts, and rainy days. ❤

I also had so much fun with the liebster award post, but that isn’t really my normal content.

4. What are some of your favorite things to do to relax?

Read way too many novels, watch Studio C, absorb poetry on golden evenings, attend beautiful classical concerts, cook myself something I’m craving, hang out with my family and the people I love, make music on the piano or with my voice, try and fail to play my ukulele aesthetically, sing in stupid ways, laugh with my brothers until my belly aches, and think of how I can worship God in little everyday things.

5. What are three of your favorite things?

Long hugs, Chick-fil-a, and the color yellow.

6. What are your proudest blogging moments?

At the end of January 2020, when I streamlined the blog, added an Instagram (find us at @sevenbillionsmilesblog!!), and cleaned it all up.

7. What are your hobbies outside of blogging?

Piano, voice, swimming, reading, board games, cooking…the list goes on. Alas, being homeschooled provides you with an appallingly long list of hobbies and interests. I wish I could say gardening was one of these hobbies, but I kill all of my plants. I’m a plant murderess. *whispers* Actually, I’m pretty sure plants are just prejudiced against me, because I really do try to take care of them well. Then they shun me and wither up–is that their problem or mine?

Two days ago, I adopted four plant children, all succulents. We shall see how we get along. Their names are Sir Ferdinand, Valancy, Little Moccasin, and Patricia.

8. Describe your personality in three words.

Aesthete, humorous (whether this is good or bad–you would find me funny in real life because I do stupid things by accident A LOT haha), motivated.

Also, fun fact, my life kind of parallels a stereotypical coming-of-age YA novel. Don’t ask lol.

9. What are your top three pet peeves?

– when people don’t empathize with others.

– when people think that someone else’s success denies their own ability to achieve.

– when people won’t take a compliment, or when they think that my compliment towards them is putting myself down. We can coexist in beautifulness!! ❤

10. What’s something your followers don’t know about you?

I used to loathe poetry. Obviously, now I don’t.

I tag: CM, Evelyn, Eden, Ellie, S. J. Barnard, Kenechi Duatron, Lrose5, banditøjul

the liebster award (the tags are back)

April 17, 2020April 17, 2020 ~ Eve Huckabee ~ 23 Comments

I have put off my tags for too long.

Stay tuned for ~more~

*eyebrow wiggle*

The Liebster Award

The Rules:

Thank the blogger who nominated you. Thank you, Chalice!!

• Display your award.

• Answer the questions you were asked.

• Nominate 5 bloggers.

• Ask 6 new questions.

• Let your nominees know they were nominated.

If your life story had a moral, what would it be? Always go for it, even if it scares you.

What’s your favorite kind of chocolate bar? Straight chocolate is overrated. According to the rest of the world, I’m pretty sure this is my greatest character flaw.

What’s something that always makes you laugh? Veggietales songs/Larry the Cucumber being a dork. In January, I may or may not have been on a car trip with a voice major and herd of choir teenagers singing Veggietales songs all the way home.

//quality music//

Veggietales remix, anyone?

What is an activity that you have a love-hate relationship with? Exercising. I’m dying the entire workout, but I’m ridiculously happy with myself afterward. As a weak individual, I am glad to live in the twenty-first century. Otherwise, natural selection would have (wisely) eliminated me pretty early for the good of future generations.

What is your most embarrassing moment (that you are willing to share)? I was with a bunch of friends playing Pandemic in my friend’s basement. (fun fact: he’s a lil British tadpole) For some reason, his family owns a poker table with an assortment of poker chairs. They don’t play poker, but they play their board games on top of the table cover because of its convenient shape. I had never been in poker chairs before, so I was intrigued by how I could lie back and the back of the chair would bend with me. Apparently, I didn’t realize how far back the chair went, and I was like, “Whoah, guys! Look at how far back this chair goes!!” Then I promptly toppled the entire chair over and my friends were all crying with laughter while I lay there with a sprained dignity.

I’m pretty sure anyone who invites me to a party has a whole event scheduled on the plan like: “Emma does something stupid by accident” or “Emma tries to do something and it’s actually hilarious.”

Y’all, I was born to entertain. Call me. 😉

What’s something you wish more people knew about? I’m pretty sure the good Christian answer for this question is Jesus.

It is very likely that you guys already knew that, so I shall provide a second choice: Most successful people are not actually “talented” at their skill, per se. They just worked hard. More respect for work rather than talent, my peeps.

My questions:

What is something your mom does that makes you feel loved?
What is your favorite natural phenomenon? Why?
What are three of your quirkiest habits?
What do you and ducks have in common?
What to people overestimate/underestimate about you?
Do you believe in penguins? (This is a very controversial topic, so please be thoughtful in your answer.)

I tag:

the simple writer’s tag

December 10, 2019March 23, 2020 ~ Eve Huckabee ~ 4 Comments

1. Link back to the person who started the tag Thanks, Ellie! ❤ (She’s having a fun Christmas book exchange over on her blog, so go join the fun!) 🙂
2. List the ten Simple Writer’s questions
3. Tag as many writing friends as you’d like!

The questions:

1. How do you like to write? (By typewriter, pen, or computer?) Being a visual and kinesthetic-geared poet: first draft with pencil, then edit on the computer and flip-flop back and forth until I’m satisfied. (I usually type out stories)

Side note: I reaaaaaaally want to get a typewriter sometime. Think of the aesthetic of poetry drafts typed out all fresh and inky and beautiful.*rapturous sigh*

2. Do you prefer to write in the first or third person? First person! I’m a selfish gal and like writing from my own POV or directly from someone else’s. ;P

3. Do you enjoy doing one POV or multiple POVs? One or two POVS.

4. What’s your favorite genre to write about? Pretty obvious: poetry. I also like flash fiction, bildungsroman, and contemporary children’s/YA fiction.

5. Who is your strongest writing supporter? I’m blessed with so many kind people who encourage me to write! My my blog/internet writer friends, my family, local poetry pal, and of course Ellie encourage and support my love for writing. Initially, the Story Embers poetry community guided me when I was a secret beginner poet and then inspired me later on to embrace poetry a part of my identity.

Also, one of my strongest writing supporters is the inner bookworm in me. I want to read a certain type of poem/story and my little bookworm inside gets so excited and happy when she likes it. And that’s encouraging. 🙂

6. What is one thing that gives you inspiration to write? Nature. God’s creation praises Him with so much beauty. It makes my heart happy and inspires me to create.

7. Do you like revision? YES!!….NO!!!! I like to edit when I’m feeling creative. When I have writer’s block, editing is the worst because I know I don’t like something, but I have no clue how to fix it. *scribbles a blackout poem as creative therapy*

8. Poems or stories? Writing poems! I equally love reading poetry and stories though. Different moods, different genres.

9. Can you listen to music while you write? Absolutely. Movie soundtracks, calming orchestral/piano music, and sometimes songs with lyrics help me get into the writing mood. My current favorite piece to listen to while writing a poem is Glassworks- opening by Philip Glass.

10. Present or past tense? Present! I find it easier to write vividly in present tense.

I tag:

Eden

Chalice the Artist

J. Dekreel

Anyone else who wants to answer in the comments or on your blog, go for it! I can’t to see your answers. 🙂

the simple things tag

October 14, 2019February 11, 2020 ~ Eve Huckabee ~ 1 Comment

Link back to the person who started the tag and thank them. Thank you Camille!
Link back to the person who tagged you and thank them. I actually stole this tag. I give credit to Evelyn for inspiring me. 😛
List 5 simple things that make you happy with pictures.
Tag one person.

1. Sunflowers. They make me smile.

2. Getting a new novel in the mail after waiting for days or weeks.

3. Swimming the first lap across the pool, smelling the chlorine, feeling the sun on my back, and knowing summer is here.

4. When I smile at a baby and the baby smiles back. Babies have no idea what’s going on or why I’m smiling, but they know I’m happy and that makes them happy.

5. When someone says that they pray for me regularly.

I tag Ellie! (I know you love the simple things) 🙂

What are some simple things that make your heart happy?