Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Someone had a birthday yesterday...

 

Can you guess whose it was?
 
Of course you can.
 
It was Natalie!!

Bring on the cake and let's celebrate!!
 

Oh but first I must explain why I'm writing a birthday post for Natalie the day after her birthday.
 
Ahem. 
 
That was not the original plan, folks, I assure you.
 
Naturally I meant to have this post written much, much sooner.
 
But (naturally again) that didn't happen.   (You know me.  Always on time for everything.)

 
Yes, well.  Mark that down to lack of time, procrastination, or whatever you wish.  I won't argue with you.  In my defense though, I did start this post last night, hoping to have it done before midnight.  I failed.  Obviously.  But hey!  It's the thought that counts!  Aren't people always saying that?  
 
Anyway, enough about my tardiness.  Let's move on from this sorry subject, shall we?  After all,  I didn't come here to talk about myself, I came here to talk about Natalie.  (So stop giving me grief about being late, okay?  Great.  Thank you.)
 
Since Natalie is now nineteen years old, I've decided to share with you...
 

Nineteen Facts About Natalie

(Because that just sounded like a good idea, so why not?)

1) Natalie is not a late night person.  At least, not generally.  Which is why it was very surprising that she survived a recent visit from a friend who kept her up till all hours of the night.  And even then she went so far as to say that she wasn't feeling all that worn out.  Well!  I guess we all have hidden strengths which come to our aid when dire circumstances arise.  ;)

2) She loves good books.  Books by authors such as Jane Austen, L.M. Montgomery, J.R.R. Tolkien...only the best.  And she reads quite a lot, too.   
 
 
I can totally see her enjoying a good story in this little nook here...or perhaps writing her own story--oh! but that should go under point number 3.
 
3)  Natalie is a writer.  She actually--and I'm not kidding--writes her own stories!  And they're good, too.  Her characters are lovely.  And her dialogue is splendid.  I remember saying to myself one of the first times I read a sample of her writing, "This is just the sort of dialogue that I like!"  She's shared snippets before on her blog, so click here and see for yourself.  :)
 
It's not like you're going to regret it or anything.
You have Henry's word for it.
 
4)   She enjoys photography and is quite good at it.  I would steal one of her pictures to prove it to you but...I don't steal.  That's naughty.  (Actually, I guess technically I stole all the pictures in this post but, well...that's different.  Nobody told me not to...)
 
5)  Natalie and her family have two "outside" dogs.  That is to say, they were outside dogs but apparently things change???  (Sorry, Natalie, I couldn't resist.  ;))  (And they're nice dogs.  Of course they are.  I did not say anything derogatory about the dogs.)
 
6)  She's very good at making decisions.  (Well, better than some people anyway.)
 
7)  She loves period drama films.  And I'm quite happy to say that while Emma 2009 didn't impress her too much the first time she watched it, it has grown on her considerably since then.  Which is just as it should be.
 

 
8)  While we're on the subject of period dramas...long movies...and all that jazz--I found this quote on Natalie's Pinterest.  I'd say it's pretty accurate.  :)
 

Haha.  She would totally do that.  Don't ever doubt it.
 
9)  Speaking of drinks, Natalie very much enjoys a nice cup of tea and/or coffee.  (I don't pretend to understand about the coffee but, 'hem, one must make allowances for a friend's peculiar tastes.)  

So.  A cup of tea for you, Natalie!  Enjoy.  (Enjoy looking at it anyway.)
 
I took this off of Natalie's Pinterest, too.  ;)
 
10)  Natalie is an introvert.  She doesn't relish being the center of attention and having to think of things to say and all that...but get this!  She actually went and auditioned for a play this year!  Stood up in front of people and sang a song all by herself.  Don't ever let her tell you she's not a brave person, because she is!!  (And then of course there was that incident with the bridge...but 'hem.  We won't go into that.) 
 
11)  Natalie is one of the sweetest most caring people ever.  Proof?  This is the last paragraph of the first comment she ever left on my blog, before she even knew me. 

I'm so sorry for the hard time you've been going through. I can keep you and your family in my prayers, if you'd like! :) And I love your blog name...it's so happy and puts me in mind of a quiet garden corner, maybe with a bench and a leafy tree, with the sun shining on it. :)
Welcome to the blogging world, Miss March!
 
I can't tell you how much that comment meant to me as a new blogger.  It was just so kind.  And she's been the same kind person ever since.
 
 
 
12)  She's so understanding, too.  Like so understanding.  I worry sometimes that I've said something the wrong way and it's going to offend her but then it never does.  Somehow she always manages to see through my bumbling explanations to the heart of what I'm trying to say. 
 
 
13)  Natalie loves her home and her family.  She's a bit of a homebody.  But at the same time she loves to be going and doing things and she definitely has an adventurous streak in her. 
 
14)  She loves fairy tales and castles and good old-fashioned romance. 
 
15)  She enjoys playing the piano, and has a collection of song books from some of her favorite movies.  (Newsies, Fiddler on the Roof, Jane Austen films...) 
 
 
(She also collects pretty pictures like this on her Pinterest page which I then take and put in a post about her.  Convenient, what?)
 
16)  Natalie's a country girl.  She would far rather live in the country than in the city.
 
 
17)  And she'd love to travel sometime.  Just about anywhere.  I think she would travel to every country in the world if she could. 
 
18)  Another quote that describes Natalie pretty accurately--which I also took from her Pinterest page, because obviously that's what I was doing last night, snooping on Pinterest...
 
 
Ahem.  I can relate to that.  Just a little.  Maybe that's why we get along so well.  ;)
 
19)  And last but certainly not least, Natalie has a very tender heart toward God.  She's the kind of friend you can talk to about the deep things in life because those are the things she most values.  Her greatest desire is to live for God and fulfill His purpose for her life, even when life is hard and painfully confusing.




She's just an all around great person, and I'm so glad to be able to call her friend. 



Happy Birthday, Natalie!! 
 
Thank you for being such a faithful and encouraging friend.  You're a joy and a blessing to so many people!  
 
This is you all over!!  *hugs*
 
I hope your birthday was wonderful!  I would tell you to save me a piece of cake, but it's kind of late for that now and besides you'd probably just tell me to get my own cake.  And on further thought I guess the cake probably wouldn't be any good to eat by the time I got to it so...never mind.  Forget I mentioned it. 
 
Sorry this post was a day late.  I guess I'll just have make up for it by wishing you a very merry un-birthday as well.  And a splendid birthday week.  And...
 
A wonderful, wonderful year ahead!
 
Love you, friend.
 
 
 
P.S.  I noticed after starting this post yesterday that two other blogging friends had written birthday posts for Natalie as well.  Way to go Heidi and Eowyn!   We'll drown her in birthday wishes.  (A good kind of drowning of course. ;)) 
 

23 comments:

  1. Awwwwwwww this post is so sweet. <3 Natalie is such a fantastic person, isn't she??

    I loved this post, and wholeheartedly agree that Natalie is wonderful. Hope you had a frabjous birthday, dear friend!

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  2. I love this girl. Happy birthday to her!!! ❤

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  3. MISSSSSSSSSSS MAAAAAAAAAARRRCCCCCCCCCCCCCHHHHHHHHHHH.

    What can I even say about this???? I LOVED IT. THANK YOU THANK THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *big huge hug*

    <333333

    I will be back soon with a more coherent comment but for now....YOU ARE SUCH AN AMAZING FRIEND LIKE WHAT EVEN, I DON'T DESERVE THIS. *HUGS HUGS HUGS*

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    1. Eeeeeek! I'm SO glad you liked it!! *HUGS* :D :D :D

      (And, 'hem. You most certainly do deserve it. And much more besides. Because you're the amazing friend here! Love you! *hugs again*)

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    2. (Heehee. Well, thank you. <3 Fine, we'll both be amazing friends. Does that make you happy? :) *hugs back*)

      Okay, here's my more detailed comment now.

      Firstly, those beautiful pink pictures at the beginning are darling.

      I don't mind AT ALLL that you were late. But *gasp*! You were working on this almost till midnight? Miss March, you SAD girl! I'm glad you went to bed instead of further injuring your health.

      Ooh, 19 facts about Natalie? Cool! I've always wanted to know more about her...

      1) BAHAHAHA.

      2) This is very true. Especially the "quite a lot" part. ;P

      THAT PHOTO IS LOVELY. I want to BE in it. Strawberries....tea...a book.....A WINDOWSEAT. It was made for me!!

      3) Well, don't make writing stories sound SO unusual. Shall I let the secret out that YOU DO IT TOO?? Oh, horrors! ;) But awwwwwwwwwwww. THANK YOU. <3 You're one of my biggest fans, you know. ;D

      HENRY. Except, I feel he may say the opposite about regretting it. You know how he is. :P (He looks so unimpressed that it's my birthday. Henry!! Smile a little! You ungrateful child.)

      4) Awww, thank you again. You're giving me a very big head you know that?

      ;) And hahaha. You would NEVER do that. (Weren't we just joking your stealign photos from one of my bog posts? Not that you DID, mind you, but the thought certainly crossed your mind. ;D)

      5) THIS WAS THE BEST. HAHAHA You are too much. ("I did not say anything derogatory about the dogs." xD)

      6) Haaaaa. Maybe. Not really. But thank you for thinking so. ;)

      7) I'm so glad my taste in movies has risen, too. I can't imagine not liking "Emma" 09!

      (Her face, though. :D)

      8) YUS. You know me well. :)

      9) I actually had tea this very morning! (But I rarely have just plain coffee, it's frappes that are my greatest temptation. Get your coffee terms straight, Miss March. ;D)

      10) "Natalie is an introvert." Hahaha! I don't know why, that just me smile. :) And awww. Thank you. But remember, you're very brave, too! (That bridge incident....*shudders*)

      11) <3333 *sniffles* :')

      12) AWwww. But you never say the wrong thing! I'm being serious. I can't think of one time that I was like, "WHAT is Miss March saying?? She makes no sense!" Yup. That never ever ever happened. :)

      13) *Stamp of approval.*

      14) *Stamp of approval again.*

      15) HOW WOULD YOU KNOW WHAT SONG BOOKS I OWN?? ;P You've been to my house??? Oh....yeah. You have. :P (You could add, "Natalie suffers from a frequent loss of memory, which is why she kept putting off a skype call with a very dear friend.") (hahaha ;))

      (For the record, I really love that picture so you totally chose well. :))

      16) Ammmmennnnn.

      (that photo is all sorts of loveliness)

      17) *Stamp of approval*

      18) THANK YOU FOR POINTING OUT WHAT A PROCRASTINATOR I AM. Great friend you are. :P (I'm totally kidding. ;))

      19) Misssss Maarrrcchhh. *big hug*

      This post is so marvelous and precious. AND SO ARE YOU. THANK YOU thank you thank you again from the very bottom of my heart. <3 You are too amazing!!!!
      I did have a very wonderful birthday, made more so the notes I received and THIS post and Éowyn's post and Heidi's post. You all are fabulous. <3

      Yeahhhh. We finished the cake already. :( Sorry. (But yes. You only have about 50 people in your family, there should be a birthday every week. Get your own cake!) (Haha. ;))

      THANK YOU. LOVE YOU, FRIEND!!!! <333

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    3. (Sure. I can handle that. ;))

      Wow. This is such an incredibly long comment. I love it!! <3 <3

      First off, yay! I'm glad you liked the pictures. :)

      Actually, uh...I was working on this till more like two o'clock. *gulp* Don't look at me like that.

      Glad you were able to better acquainted with her then! Heehee. ;)

      2) I thought you would like that picture. :)

      3) Well, as you know I don't actually, write stories. I just think about writing them. You on the other hand, have actually finished a whole first draft! There's quite a difference there.

      Ha. That's true. He probably would do that. I certainly wouldn't put it past him. (And yeah, smile Henry! THIS IS NATALIE'S BIRTHDAY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT!!!)

      4) Just trying to give you a bit of your own medicine. You gave me a big head on my birthday, now I give you one. Share and share alike. ;)

      (I? Thought about stealing one of your pictures?! NEVER. :0)

      5) *chuckles*

      9) WhatEVER. I care not for coffee. I care not for terms. You can have your old "frappies" (or whatever you call them). ;P

      12) I guess it must just be me over-analyzing then. (Imagine that!)

      13) Heehee. Love how you just wrote *stamp of approval* :)

      15) Yes. I was there. Thanks for remembering. ;) (Oh yeah, the forgotten Skype call! Tsk, tsk. That was pretty bad that was. Heehee. ;))

      18) Don't mention it. *bows* It was the least I could do.

      I'm so glad you had a good birthday, dear!! (And that you liked this post.) And that you got so many other notes from friends as well. You certainly deserved all the well-wishes you received!! *HUGS*

      (But about that cake. I'll have you know we don't have any more birthdays until October. :( Are you really so unfeeling as to make me wait that long?? Get my own cake indeed. Humph.)

      LOVE YOU, TOO!! <3

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  4. Happy 19th Natalie! (Don't mind if you save me a piece too....okay, never mind. If Miss March doesn't get one neither do I. ;D)

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    1. Of course you don't get a piece of cake if I don't!! Honestly. There's got to be some fairness in this world! (Hahaha. ;))

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  5. Beautifully done, Miss March! That was simply splendid! You're such a sweet friend :)

    And HAPPIEST OF HAPPY BIRTHDAYS, NATALIE!!! (If you see this, dear, I hope you a lovely birthday :) )

    ~Emma

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    1. Aww, thank you, Emma. I'm glad you think so. :)

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  6. This was such a darling post, Miss March. :)

    Although... I feel as though there were a lot of sassy inside jokes underlying all the sweetness, haha. xD

    All your points were (I'm not going to say "on point" because that's not me) so accurate and I agree with all of it.

    Haha, well as an ENFJ I have a tendency also to put something off because I know once I start I'll get so determined I'll go at it for hours without stopping. Often I forget to eat or drink if I'm very determined to do something. :P

    And yes, understanding has to be one of the best adjectives for Natalie. (*looking at Natalie* YOU ARE.)

    Haha, I loved how you used all her Pinterest pictures for your post about her. You're so funny, Miss March. xD

    Love you both!! <3 And Happy Birthday Natalie! (again)

    ~Miss Meg

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    1. Aw, thanks! I'm glad you liked it. :)

      Haha. Weeeell...there may have been a little of that, yes. ;)

      The trials of being a perfectionist, right? We make so much work for ourselves. ;P

      Heehee. Well, at least that way I didn't have to worry that she wouldn't like the pictures, right? Haha. ;)

      Love you too, Miss Meg!! *hugs* Thanks so much for your comment.

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  7. Happy Birthday Natalie!!!!

    Lovely post, Miss March!

    -Lia
    catholicgirlstuff.blogspot.com
    lilahsmusicals.blogspot.com

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  8. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUR LOVELY BEST FRIEND MISS MARCH!!!

    Such a lovely and darling post Miss March.

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  9. To everyone in the comments....
    THANK YOU ALL SOOOOOO MUCH FOR YOUR LOVELY BIRTHDAY WISHES!!! *GROUP HUG* <3

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  10. Awww!!! This was so cute, Miss March (it feels so weird to call you that now...)

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NATALIE AND THANK YOU FOR BEING SUCH A GOOD FRIEND TO THE LOVELY MISS MARCH!!

    Also that quote about procrastination??? Wow! Exactly why I procrastinate!!

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    1. Awww, Kate. You're such a sweetheart. Thanks for this comment. :D (And thank YOU for being such a good friend, too! :))

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