2016 Yearly Recap

This is late, but since I've done this recap since 2013, I might as well do it again!

1. What did you do in 2016 that you'd never done before? 
I traveled internationally alone. It was a lot less scary and a whole lot easier than I expected - and a lot easier than traveling in a group, I will also admit!

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
My goals for 2016 were to give to a cause every month and read 50 books. I did give monthly to CRF through sponsorship and I also read exactly 50 books! For 2017, I would like to commit to at least 50 more books and I want to write more.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My sweet friend Megan gave birth to twins! Also my friend Stephanie gave birth to a lovely daughter.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
My uncle Greg died on September 27. Also notable - although we weren't close, the mother of my sponsored child died in August, and her life will always leave a mark on my heart.

5. What countries did you visit?  
Kenya (and Qatar and England if you count long airport stays...)

6. What would you like to have in 2017 that you lacked in 2016?
Last year I wanted to have more community and I wanted to be busy in a good way instead of focusing on me-time. I am thankful for the Bible study began by my friend Krisann and I last January that is still going on! The Lord has been so faithful with community. I'm also learning more about busyness as I step into foster care.

For 2017, I would like to be more intimate in my prayer life. I try to keep conversation casual throughout the day, but I want to step deeper with the Lord this year. During some difficult transitions globally, I should be relying intentionally more on the Lord than I feel like I am now.

7. What dates from 2016 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
The day I lost my uncle was one of the most difficult days of my life. I don't know if anything can quite compare with that.

On a happier note, November 14 was the day that Jen and I gave our Kenyan daughter-in-a-way, Eunice, a birthday in honor of her mother, Caroline.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I thought the trip I planned in July to Kenya went very well. As a young person still very much learning about taking groups overseas, I felt like this was an accomplishment for me! Similarly when I traveled alone in September.

9. What was your biggest failure?
My biggest failure was when I accidentally paid $50 instead of $52 to the water company for 3 months and ended up with a $400 late fine for those $6 I missed!

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? 
Other than a month in the winter that I could not seem to get over a cold, I have been healthy!

11. What was the best thing you bought?
I bought a car!

12. Where did most of your money go?
Most of my money went towards bills, that car, and food. I'm adulting now, aren't I?

13. What did you get really excited about?
Obviously I get so excited about CRF's ministry and about my beloved community in Kenya.

14. What song will always remind you of 2016? 
Overwhelmed by Big Daddy Weave.

Foster Care Timeline (From Training to First Placement)

Hello friends, I know I don't post often, but I am going through the training process to get my foster parent license and I thought I would share the timeline here - as a look-back for me and a help for anyone who might be considering the same.

As I begin, I'm in the very first stages of the training process, but I am curious to see what length of time lapses before my first child placement. The representative said 30-90 days from orientation to licensing, but I've heard stories of much longer lengths of time! We will see.

Before this timeline began were several months of talking to people who have fostered and interviewing with a few various agencies, as I didn't want to make the decision to foster lightly. The agency that I've chosen is the third that I've interviewed with - not including CPS, which I was considering, but I preferred a Christian-based agency for the support system and resources.

Foster Care Timeline:

January 20, 2016 - Interview with representative for a foster agency that I liked, but I didn't feel like I quit fit their needs (they're passionate about foster-to-adopt)

January 21, 2016 - Interview and private orientation for a foster agency that I also liked, but I didn't feel like I quite fit their needs (they're passionate about long-term foster care only)

January 23, 2016 - Conversation with someone at CPS; I was interested, but more passionate about a Christian-based agency

February through July (6 months) - After attending multiple meetings where I didn't feel the Lord saying "yes" and planning a group trip to Kenya in July, I took a break from interviews and meetings and spent time in active prayer about the next step to take

July 26, 2016 - Initial conversation with representative for my chosen foster agency (different agency from the first two in January)

August 2, 2016 - Foster Care Orientation and first training session

August 3, 2016 - TB test

August 6, 2016 - CPR Certification

August 7, 2016 - Two-hour Psychotropic Medication Overview Training

August 19 2016 - Finish reading The Connected Child, an assigned reading for training

August 20, 2016 - Built bunk beds for children's room, purchased smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguisher

September 8, 2016 - Training sessions over sensitive communication, sound relationships, and child development

September 15, 2016 - Training session missed due to being out of the country - making this up during my home study

September 22, 2016 - Training sessions over separation, loss, and grief and child maltreatment

September 26, 2016 - Completed two-hour Trauma Informed Care training and two-and-a-half-hour Medical Consent training

October 26, 2016 - Fingerprinting

November 22, 2016 - Sent autobiography, house and yard floor plans, and dentist and doctor information

December 7, 2016 - Veterinary papers and rabies certification sent

December 13, 2016 - Received wellness check from physician

December 16, 2016 - Cleared TB test

January 21, 2017 - Behavioral Crisis Management Training (4 hours) and Medical Training

January 25, 2017 - Fire safety home check

January 27-29, 2017 - First placement; respite care for 3 children under the age of 5 years

February 3, 2017 - Home visitation

February 7, 2017 - Submitted income information 

2015 Yearly Recap

1. What did you do in 2015 that you'd never done before? 
I gradated university, I've lived by myself without roommates or family, I've started a "real world" job, and I led a trip to Africa. Lots of new adventures last year!  

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
My resolutions were to read 75 books, which I kept. This year, I want to give to a cause every month.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Not this year - although coming up in April is the due date of one of my closest friends!

4. Did anyone close to you die?
My precious Nawnie died on September 11 and life has not been the same without her here.

5. What countries did you visit?  
Amsterdam and Kenya

6. What would you like to have in 2016 that you lacked in 2015?
I want to have more community. The process of moving and adjusting to a new life has left me with very few friends in this city. I'm praying that the Lord will bring me people who love Jesus and people who don't love Jesus yet, that he will raise up community in my city.

I'm also hoping to be busier in a good way, that I will learn to be more selfless with my time instead of holding it as a precious treasure that is only mine.

7. What dates from 2015 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
September 11, as I mentioned before, was the day my grandma died. May 16 was my graduation from university. And June 1, I began the job of my dreams.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Graduating from university was a big deal for me! (I still have dreams that I've missed important exams.) Another achievement was starting this job and stepping into the adult world without too much struggle.

9. What was your biggest failure?
 Laughingly, I think my biggest failure was the first month I tried to keep a budget on my own.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? 
Nothing crazy last year, praise the Lord!

11. What was the best thing you bought?
The best thing I bought was a kitchen table and chairs for my new house.

12. Where did most of your money go?
Most of my money has gone towards food, moving into my new place, and towards spoiling my dog.

13. What did you get really excited about?
I've gotten so excited about working for CRF and leading trips to Kenya. I have such a passion for orphans and this career lets me serve them with my life.

14. What song will always remind you of 2015? 
Probably Blank Space by Taylor Swift.

How to Survive Your Freshman Year of College

This year, I'm entering my senior year of college. It's hard to believe that time has moved so quickly, but looking back at the person I was as a new freshman, I can see how much I have changed and grown. If you are a freshman in college, the next year may be one of the most transforming of your life. If I could go back and give my 18-year-old self any advice about college, this is what I would say:

1.) Get involved right away. Having no friends can turn you into a lonely, homesick hermit for those first few weeks of college (speaking from experience). You will have a much better time if you join a Bible study or organization that first week and start working on new friendships from the very beginning.

2.) Friendships will accelerate. One of my biggest concerns going into college was, "I've been friends with the same people for years. How am I supposed to make good friends in just a few weeks?" Believe me, you do. All the other new freshmen want to make friends just as much as you do. Crises bring people together, and moving to a new place with a bunch of terrified strangers is definitely a form of crisis. By the end of this year, your college friendships will be deeper than you ever expected.

3.) Be prepared for your study habits to change. High school consists of 6 hours in class and maybe an hour of studying each day. College is backwards. You'll spend a few hours in class each day, if that, and then you are expected to spend your free time with your nose in a book. The adjustment can be difficult. Prepare to move into the library or a study corner, putting work into school outside of class. If you don't put hours into studying in college, you'll be surprised at how quickly your grades start to fall.

4.) Get enough sleep. I don't know why all-nighters are a thing, because they're horrible. Past about 2am, you lose all motivation to study and you end up spending most of the night on Facebook, staring with bleary eyes into space, or napping on the hard floor. The next morning when you take the test, you feel half-dead. All-nighters are a terrible idea. Instead, just study ahead of time, put in the work that you're supposed to (not just the day before), and then pull a late-nighter without having to sacrifice an entire night's sleep.

5.) Use a planner. I didn't learn this until my junior year, but a detailed planner is a life-saver. I mark down every single assignment from every single syllabus I receive. Then when I look over that week's schedule, I can think to myself, "Okay, today I need to read 2 chapters from this class, 1 chapter in this class, and I have a test on Thursday to study for." A planner may seem like a drag (and honestly, it kind of is), but it's worth the extra effort. When you are balancing several difficult classes at the same time, organization is essential.

6.) Don't skip class. Skipping class is a normal thing to do, at least at my university. By the middle of the semester, there might be only a handful of students sitting in a class that is registered as full. Lectures are boring, sleep is enticing, but skipping class is not worth the stress that you will feel when it's time for midterms and you don't understand what on earth your textbook is trying to say.

7.) Visit a few churches and then stick with one. Going to church by yourself, before you really have found a community of your own, is hard. If you loved your home church, then finding a new church alone is even harder. The more you visit new churches without settling down, the more discouraged you will become. So find a place where the people are kind, the doctrine matches your own, and you can worship freely, and stay there. In 4 months, if you are still not satisfied, you can look around some more.

8.) Your friendships will change. I think it's fairly typical to enter college with a mindset of, "Nobody here could ever match up with the amazing friends I had in high school." The truth is that you and your high school friends will likely grow up more in this year than you did in all of high school, and if you are living in different places, you will begin to grow apart. Now, whenever you're back in your hometown together, things will flood back to how they were. Being together will always be a blast. But it's okay to grow and change apart from your friends. The friendships you form at university may be the best you've ever had.

9.) Do not over-commit. While it's important to get involved right away, it's just as important not to pack your schedule with way more than you can handle. Don't join 5 organizations or Bible studies at once. You're at university for school, so be sure to reserve time for studying. Find one or two groups at your college where you fit and stick with those. Don't be afraid to take a few hours each week to relax and study by yourself.

10.) Take time for Jesus. Freshman year is crazy, busy, overwhelming, and chaotically fun. You are going to be busier than you have ever been. You are going to make more friends in a short amount of time than you ever have before. You are going to look back a year from now and think, "Wow, I have changed so much." As you're growing and changing and discovering more about yourself, be sure to take the time each day to spend with Jesus. Learn about Him with community and learn about Him in quiet, solitary times. When you are feeling lonely, overwhelmed, or discouraged, cling to Him. Use this year to be passionate and excited about your relationship with the Lord.

Are you a new freshman in college? Let me know, and I will be praying for you!

One year ago: Pranks on Pranks on Pranks
Three years ago: Letter to High School Freshmen

5 Things: Wildflowers and Dust

1.) It's springtime, which means that the wildflowers have come out.  My favorite flower is the bluebonnet, and I'm thankful to attend university in a town where these beautiful flowers blanket the roadsides almost wherever I drive... and sometimes even in my own backyard!

2.) Almost every day, I feel a twinge of homesickness for my hometown.  Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love being in college.  I love my home here, my friends, and my university.  Not a day goes by (except maybe during finals week) when I don't thank God for letting me go to school in such a beautiful, friendly place!

But I love my family and friends back home so much too, so I always have a feeling of being torn between two beautiful places.

Not this week.

Severe dust storms hit during the spring.  My Facebook feed is often covered with shocking photos of the sepia-toned sky.

Photo credit to NewsChannel10

On days like that, I am thankful for the rainy spring weather and blooming flowers in my college town.

3.) My sponsored son, David, used to be the coolest four-year-old on the planet.  He lost that title when he became... the coolest five-year-old!  Happy birthday, sweet boy.

4.) My house has a "Kenya Corner."  In that corner is our "David Jar."  (My roommates and I like to name things.)  We are trying to save a little money to buy David's family a pair of goats.  Goats are huge to help the status of a family in an impoverished country.  They provide milk, meat, and they have babies that the family can sell.

Usually I put my pocket change in the jar at the end of the week, if I have any.  Recently my roommates made a rule.  Kelsey and Kendall love chocolate (Sammy and I do not), and to get ready for summer, they have committed to eating only one piece of chocolate each day.  Any more and they must put a dollar in the David Jar.

It looks like David is will get his goats in no time!

5.) It's been a while since I've shared a picture of Jack.  One of the saddest parts of being away at college for months at a time is not having dogs to come home to at the end of the day. 

What's been on your mind?

Three years ago: That glimmer of hope

10 Tips for Surviving College

Day 6: A piece of advice you have for others

I am young and have not accumulated much wisdom yet, but as summer draws nearer, I've been watching the tours of wide-eyed and slightly terrified high school seniors wander through my college campus.

Today I would like to list 10 things I wish a tenured college student had told me as I began school August of my freshman year. 

1.) Don't worry about what you look like when you go to class. 

If you have an early morning class, don't be afraid to wake up 10 minutes before you need to leave, throw on jeans and a t-shirt, and brush your teeth.  You can straighten up during the reasonable hours of daytime after you get back from class.  (On the other hand, wearing house shoes and pajamas is usually frowned upon.)

2.) As a freshman, get involved, but pick one or two organizations at the most.

Getting involved and finding community is very important for your college life.  Being in a club helps you to find a regular group of friends, and it can also serve as a distraction from homesickness.  However, a mistake that is easy to make is getting over-involved.  When I was a freshman in college, I joined so many Bible studies and clubs that I was spending time with a different group of people six nights each week.  I was distracted from my homesickness, but my grades reflected my schedule and it took me longer to make close friends.  When you hang out with someone new every single day, you are not putting quality time and effort into the relationships that will last long-term.

3.) Balance out your study time.  

This can be difficult, especially when you are over-involved.  There will sometimes be three or four weeks in between tests in a class, but don't use that time to procrastinate too much, because in a week, you may have four or five tests.  Cramming for four tests at once is pretty much impossible and one of the most stressful college experiences you can create for yourself.  Try to keep up with your reading.

4.) You'll be less tired if you get up early enough to start class on time.

This sounds like it doesn't make sense, but trust me on this one.  When I have an early morning class, I tend to press the snooze button over and over again until I'm running late.  It's not worth it.  The stress of gathering your things (and forgetting the right notebooks in the process), missing the bus, and rushing across campus is exhausting.  Make sure you get up within enough time to make it to class even 3 minutes before it starts.  You will start out your day feeling a lot less overwhelmed, scatterbrained, and worn out from stressing out about being late.

5.) Don't look for a church exactly like your home church. It does not exist.

If there is one issue I keep hearing from college freshmen, it is: "I just can't find a church that I like.  I absolutely loved my youth group and pastor at my old church.  No church here can compare."  Never church-hunt with that mindset.  No church will have the same exact feel as your old church, especially when you're already feeling homesick.  College is a new experience.

Look for a church that aligns with your beliefs, has a welcoming environment, and will provide community where you can grow and serve.  Determination to find a church exactly like your home church will only leave you feeling over-critical, disappointed, and it may even lead you away from finding a college church altogether. 

6.) It is both possible and wise to avoid all-nighters.
All-nighters are never worth it.  Staying up all night studying will only make your mind feel mushy and tired the next morning when you actually have to concentrate on your exam.  Study in advance and make sure you get at least a few hours of sleep before your tests. 

7.) Learn how to use a planner.
A planner has been my life-saver in college.  Transfer all of your syllabi into your planner right before your semester begins.  I have friends who keep five different syllabi in their backpacks, and I have friends who have a simple planner that tells them when everything is due.  Not only do I keep track of my tests, projects, and appointments in my planner, but I also keep track of where in my textbooks I should be reading that week.

8.) Missing meals is not worth it.
I do this all the time and I always regret it.  Whoever plans classes never think about mealtimes.  I always seem to have class directly during lunchtime or way too early for me to feel hungry for breakfast.  But whatever you do, eat something small before class or you'll find yourself nodding off during lecture.

9.) Don't skip class. 
A lot of people do it.  A lot of professors are horribly boring and give long and dreary lectures.  But if you skip class, you will almost certainly suffer for it.

10.) Find study friends that will encourage you to work hard more than they will distract you from studying.
Study dates and parties are always happening.  However, don't mistake social studying for actual studying.  Productivity rarely happens during these times.  If you're with a group of friends, about 30% of your attention is going to be on what you're studying.  If you really hate studying alone, I encourage you to find a friend who will sit quietly with you and talk only for those few minutes that you need a brief lapse from concentration.

If you're currently in college or you're a graduate, what advice would you give to incoming college students?  If you're in high school, what concerns do you have about starting college?

One year ago: Bigger
Two years ago: What I leave behind and Five Inches

Yearly Recap 2013

I borrowed this new year's survey from the blog Rage Against the Minivan.  If you fill out one of your own, be sure to let me know in the comments so I can go read your answers!

1. What did you do in 2013 that you'd never done before? 
I did seven weeks of fasting from various things as a Bible study with my friend Sammy, and I learned so much.  It was the first time I had ever really fasted. 

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
My two resolutions for 2013 were to read at least two books every month and to write my sponsored daughter, Lavin, a letter once a month for the entire year.  I accomplished both goals!  Next year's resolutions will be to continue writing Lavin monthly and discipling her, as well as read more than fifty books in the year 2014.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My young friend Megan gave birth to a precious little girl named Abcde last January.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
By the grace of God, I did not lose anyone close to me last year!  The most impacting loss was that of Emmanuel Namunyu, a man who helped thousands of orphans in Kenya and who was one of my heroes.  I was so thankful to meet him this summer.

5. What countries did you visit?  
I visited England and Kenya.

6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
I want to have more balance in my schedule as I figure out the best way to study and focus on ministry during college.  I would also like to have less anxiety and stress, as I tend to fall into those emotions and insecurities when life is building up on me.

7. What dates from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I'm not so good with actual dates, but two weeks in June and July, I had the opportunity to go to Kenya for the second time and have quality time with my beloved sponsored children, as well as see the ways the Lord is using Christian Relief Fund to serve orphans and communities in Africa.

Also, for four days in August, I was able to serve as a prayer teamer for Impact Retreat, a ministry for incoming freshmen to Texas A&M University.  Spending long shifts in a prayer room broke my flesh in a lot of very good ways, and I learned so much from the girls who spent time in that room with me.  I was able to see God move in powerful ways that week! 

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Don't laugh, but my proudest moment from at least last semester was when I made a 98 on an exam.  That was the highest college score I've ever gotten before.  

I am happy with the way that I cut back my schedule this year.  By March, I felt like I was drowning in commitments and responsibilities, so my dad sat me down and reminded me that it is not wrong to tell people no, so I began to do just that and my life began to run a lot more smoothly.  My second semester, although it was tested with some difficult situations, was much easier in schedule than the first few months of 2013.  I am a people-pleaser by nature and I like to say yes to everything asked of me, but I am learning when it is better to take a step back.

9. What was your biggest failure?
A minor failure that was big to me was that I committed to doing NaNoWriMo in November and I only wrote 38,000 words instead of 50,000.  

On a more serious note, while taking time to myself over the last few months, I struggled to keep in touch with a few of my dear friends.  While I know that we will pick things up easily where we left off, I allowed busyness to get in the way of some good quality time with people I love.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? 
I kicked off last year with a case of the flu, but other than that and a cold or two, I have been safe and healthy in 2013!  Much better than the dramatic longboarding accident of 2012.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
A plane ticket to Kenya this last summer (I had a lot of help from people who supported me).

12. Where did most of your money go?
I'm just going to be honest and say: food.  When you're a busy college student who doesn't know a whole lot about cooking, you eat out a lot.  So a good portion of what I spend goes to meals.

13. What did you get really excited about?
I keep bringing this up, but Kenya.  Returning to that country and being reunited with loved ones there and meeting new faces was so special.  Also, I was able to travel with my Naana, which made the trip even more wonderful for both of us.

14. What song will always remind you of 2013? 
"Do You Want to Build a Snowman?" from the movie Frozen.

15. Compared to this time last year, are you: 
-happier or sadder?  
I don't want to make it sound like I am not happy, because I truly am, but looking at last year, I think I am a little sadder right now.  It's been a difficult semester and I have been tested in several areas of my life and even in a few relationships.  I have changed churches in college (while my family changed churches in my hometown) and moved from one house to another over the course of a semester.  However, I have seen God's faithfulness, and I am looking back on 2013 with a lot of joy.
-thinner or fatter?
I'm guessing I'm a few pounds "fatter" after all this delicious holiday food I've been eating.
-richer or poorer?
I'm a college student.  I'll have little money of my own until I graduate and get a full-time job. 

16. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Seen my family.  For most of the year, I live nine hours away from my family, and I always miss them!  My little brother is growing up so fast that every time I see him, his voice has changed or he has grown a foot taller.  My little sister is about to graduate from high school.  And of course, I wish I could have more time with my parents, but sometimes we go a few months without seeing each other. 

17. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worry.  2013 has definitely been marked by stress on my part, which is something I am working to overcome.

18. How did you spend Christmas?
I spent Christmas with my family and some friends, having delicious food and celebrating family time.  

19. What was your favorite TV program?
I'm obsessed with Community.  But Downton Abbey and Sherlock win honorable mention.

20. What were your favorite books of the year?
They weren't all necessarily published this year, but the books I enjoyed most (and read for the first time) were Radical by David Platt, Iscariot by Tosca Lee, and The 7 Experiment by Jen Hatmaker.

21. What was your favorite music from this year?
Imagine Dragons, the Frozen soundtrack, Sara Bareilles, and the latest Passion album.  

22. What was your favorite film of the year?
Iron Man 3.  Don't judge me!

23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?  
For my birthday in October, I went to dinner at my favorite restaurant with a few sweet friends.  I turned 21!

24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If I had worried less and trusted in the Lord's faithfulness more, I would have found a lot more joy in the moment.

25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?
T-shirts.  Lots and lots of maroon t-shirts.  I am not an icon you should look to for fashion tips.

26. What kept you sane?
Jesus, my parents, writing, and best friends.

27. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013? 
Things change.  Relationships change, situations change, life changes constantly.  But God remains faithful.  His love is unconditional and unchanging.

Two years ago: You are significant. You are loved.
Three years ago: On the Edge
Four years ago: Child of Mine

My 2013 Reading List

If you do not read books, you will be bored by this blog post.  For that matter, if you are not interested in finding new books to read, you will be bored by this blog post.  You have been warned.

I knew my senior picture would come in handy one day.

To sum up 2013, I'd like to share a list of the books I've read this year.  I know I've forgotten a few, which bugs me a little, but it's my own fault for forgetting to write down every title I've read as I went.  I'm an avid reader, and if you are too, hopefully this list will be of some help if ever you're wondering what to read next.

My goal for this year was to read at least two books a month, and I went above and beyond that goal, which makes me happy.  My reading goal for 2014 will be to read more than fifty books.

I'm going to give a 1-5 star rating for each book I've read in 2013, depending on how much I enjoyed the read.  If you see my list and have a book to recommend for me, please let me know in the comments!  Also, I will put (RR) next to books I re-read, because this means the book is good enough to read over and over again. 

My 2013 Reading List:

1. Outlaw by Ted Dekker: ****
2. Black by Ted Dekker (Twice this year, in June and November!) (RR): *****
3. Red by Ted Dekker (RR): *****
4. White by Ted Dekker (RR): *****
5. Showdown by Ted Dekker (RR): *****
6. Genesis by Ted Dekker: I will not rate this, because this actually is not a published book available to the public.
7. The Blood Book by Ted Dekker: This is also not a published book.
8. House by Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti (RR): ****
9. Iscariot by Tosca Lee: ****
10. Elsie Dinsmore by Martha Finley (RR): ****
11. Elsie's Holidays at Roselands by Martha Finley (RR): ***
12. Elsie's Girlhood by Martha Finley (RR): ***
13. Elsie's Motherhood by Martha Finley: ***
14. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling: *****
15. Left Behind by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins: *****
16. The Boys of the Dark by Robin Gaby Fisher: ** (Warning, a lot of violent content)
17. 19 Minutes by Jodie Piccoult (RR): *** (Warning, explicit language and some sexual content)
18. The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis (RR): *****
19. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis (RR): *****
20. The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis (RR): *****
21. The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis (RR): *****
22. The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis (RR): *****
23. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (RR): ****
24. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo (RR): *****
25. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green: ****
26. And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini: ***
27. The Purpose of Man: Designed to Worship by A.W. Tozer: ***
28. Radical by David Platt: *****
29. Follow Me by David Platt: ****
30. The Explicit Gospel by Matt Chandler: ***
31. 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess by Jen Hatmaker: ****
32. 7 Experiment: Staging Your Own Mutiny Against Excess by Jen Hatmaker: ****
33. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli: ***
34. My Story by Elizabeth Smart: ****
35. Toxic Charity by Robert D. Lupton: ***
36. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain (RR): ****
37. Maggie: A Girl of the Streets by Stephen Crane: *** (Warning, some pretty heavy content)
38. Daisy Miller by Henry James: ***
39. Carrie by Stephen King: ** (Warning, a horror novel with graphic content and language)
40. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld (RR): *****
41. Pretties by Scott Westerfeld (RR): ****
42. Specials by Scott Westerfeld (RR): ***
43. City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau: ***
44. Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie (RR): *****
45. Praise Habit by David Crowder (RR): ***
46. I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced by Nujood Ali ****
47. I Love You Like Crazy Cakes by Rose A. Lewis ***** 
48. The Color Purple by Alice Walker ***

I'm actually quite surprised by how many books I re-read this year!  If it's a joy once, it's a joy again.

If you kept a list of what you read this year and post it on your blog, send me the link!  I would love to have some ideas of what more to read in 2014.

See you next year, friends!

One year ago: Recap of 2012
Two years ago: Help Find Haley (Updated)
Three years ago: Because I'm Broken
Four years ago: The End of a Decade

The Only Legacy

Day 30: List 5 things you would hope to be remembered for.

This is the last day of August's 30 Day Blogging Challenge!  If you completed this challenge or started late, post the link to your blog in the comments below.  This month has gone by quickly.

When I was younger, being remembered was a big deal to me.  I very much wanted to be remembered after I died.  Leaving a legacy seemed so very important.  I lost a friend at fifteen and I was so desperate to remember him.  When I woke in the night, when I got up in the morning, while I studied at school, when I spent time with my friends.  Whenever I forgot, even for a moment, I felt extreme shame.  He needed to be remembered.  

I still remember Gatlin and think of him often, but I have a different perspective of being remembered now.

After I die, I probably won't be remembered.  Of course I will for a little while, but what about in a hundred years?  Three hundred?  My name will only be a fading scratch on a gravestone.  It doesn't matter so much if I am remembered because I will be alive and worshiping the King of Kings.  He knows me.  He will remember me.  And I will know Him face-to-face.

But if I could think of five things to be remembered for, they would be that I was:

1.) Redeemed.  When people look back on my life, I would hope the thought would be, "Wow, God's grace was displayed in her. " 

2.) A lover of orphans.

3.) Kind. 

4.) One who loves well.

5.) A reflection of Him.

What are 5 things you would like to be remembered for?

Two years ago: Ruin Me
Three years ago: 30 Day Blog Challenge

Three Hobbies

Day 23: List your top 3 hobbies and why you love them.

1.) Writing.

Obviously, this is my favorite hobby.  Writing is the easiest way for me to articulate what's on my mind and what's pressing upon my heart.  It's one of my favorite forms of worship.  I so love writing letters to my Father.

Any kind of writing pretty much wins me over: poetry, songs, blogs, short stories, long stories, journal entries.  If a day goes by and I haven't written anything, I have trouble sleeping that night.  Writing is sweet to me.  I love it.

2.) Guitar.

I'm not a great guitarist, but I enjoy playing this instrument and learning a little more each year.  At my house, we have a prayer room.  I love closing myself into this place with my guitar.  Hours are spent playing music and singing to Jesus.  It's such a joyful time. 

Also, I get to lead worship throughout the year, which is one way that I can use this small ability to encourage others.  You don't have to be a great guitarist to lead worship; most praise songs have simple chords.  At the beginning of last year, the idea of leading worship with my friends intimidated me quite a bit, but the Lord has given me a lot of freedom in that area.  I now have so much more confidence and He has blessed me in that!

3.) Longboarding.

I'm also not great at longboarding.  If you've followed my blog for long, you may remember how just over a year ago, I was in a longboarding accident that actually made it difficult for me to blog for the next month.  However, I have now learned better safety and I still do longboard often when I'm back in my college town.

When I'm feeling frustrated or stressed out, one of my favorite things to do is go out into the open air and skate, even up and down my street.  I'm horrible at most sports, so longboarding may actually be one of the only things that I can handle!

What are some of your favorite hobbies?

Two years ago: Letter to Sophomores in High School

Five Songs

Day 10: 5 songs on your playlist today

1.) Stay by Sara Bareilles

2.) Thirsty by Lizi Bailey

There wasn't a YouTube video I could find with this song, but it is on iTunes, so you should check it out.

3.) God's Great Dance Floor by Chris Tomlin

4.) Big Jet Plane by Angus & Julia Stone

5.) Blood by The Middle East

What are some songs on your playlist today? 

Two years ago: I tend to be ungrateful.
Three years ago: Starting High School with a Smile

These are a few of my favorite things.

Day 5: What are the five things that make you happiest?

1.) Finding a new favorite song.  Don't you just love those moments when you hear a song that utterly captures your heart?  I have a few favorites right now, like "Africa" by Paul Colman, "Stay" by Jimmy Needham and Lizi Bailey, and "Rocks" by Imagine Dragons. 

2.) My little dog, Jack.  This dog makes me laugh so much.  I spent last weekend home alone while my family was in Ohio, but Jack was there to keep me company.  He's so much fun!  Jack is a smart little guy, so he loves to play games like Hide and Seek.  I think his favorite is when I tie his ball up in a blanket and he has to figure out how to untie it.  I'm always smiling when Jack's around. 

3.) Discovering something new and precious in Scripture.  One of my very favorite moments is when I'm having a quiet time in the Word and I stumble across something I've never noticed before, even though I've read it a hundred times.  The Lord is so good to give us a living and active Word.  It's amazing!  Best mornings ever.

4.) Spending time with my family.  I've got a very close-knit family.  We've been able to spend some good quality time this summer, playing miniature golf and geocaching and spending evenings together.  I've been very blessed.

5.) Loving orphans.  This is an obvious one, but my heart is at home when the Lord is allowing me to share His love with a precious child that He has not left an orphan but has loved relentlessly and unceasingly.  My heart still longs to be in Kenya, where I left many loved ones.

 

What are 5 things that make you happy?

Two years ago: Reasons to Smile

Blogs I Follow

Day 4: Blogs you follow.

In April, I shared a few blogs I enjoy reading.  Today I'll share some more.  Get ready for a long list.

1.) Holy to the Lord by Lindi.  She is a dear friend of mine who has been in my life since we were in sixth grade.  The Lord has cultivated a heart of compassion and joy in her.  She just spent a month in Kenya, Africa.  She's a sweet writer and I enjoy reading her reflections and words of worship.

2.) Fisher of Men by Jack.  He is another good friend of mine.  Jack writes Biblical and thought-provoking posts, challenging Christians to live like Christ.

3.) Kisses from Katie.  If you haven't read the book by the same name, you should.  It's powerful.  And Katie keeps a blog, sharing powerful and heartbreaking stories about her life as an adoptive mama of something like 14 kids in Uganda.  She doesn't post nearly as often as I wish she would, but when she does, I always end up crying.

4.) No Greater Joy Mom.  I love, love, love adoption blogs, and this is a great one.  I think they're so powerful.  This mom has adopted six kids from around the world (and has three natural born sons as well) and their stories are all amazing.

5.) Sail East by Rachel.  She is a prayer teamer with me in our organization at college.  Rachel just spent the summer studying abroad in Morocco!  Her thoughts and stories are hilarious. 

6.) Seeing Joy.  MJ's thoughts are always so poignant and thought-provoking.  She is a full-time foster mom of newborn babies.  I can't even imagine the heartbreak involved in falling in love with the most precious babies and then giving them up, over and over again, but MJ does it and she keeps a steady focus on Christ.  She just announced that she is in the process of adopting a four-year-old girl from Africa.

7.) Sister Haiti.  This is another adoption blog.  Salem has adopted several kids from around the world.  I love reading stories about one of her daughters, Jovia, who was born without limbs.  I've always had a heart for kids who were born with this particular disability and have asked the Lord if this is something He is calling me to do when I'm older.  Reading about Jovia's independence and enthusiasm is such a joy!  Salem is also a frequent advocate for international adoption.

8.) My Soul Waits by Lauren.  This is another sweet friend.  She writes frequently and about thought-provoking, worshipful things.  I always smile after reading her blog.

9.) All the Way My Savior Leads Me by Mariah.  This is a friend of mine who is spending the summer serving in Zambia!  Her stories about how Christ is moving in this country are so sweet! 

10.) Beagle's Epic Adventures in Faith.  This family works with Christian Relief Fund.  They are missionaries in Kitale, Kenya, Africa.  They serve the Kingdom in so many powerful ways.  I love reading updates about how the Lord is moving through their willingness to serve.

11.) Welcome Blessings.  While working in Uganda, Christina adopted an orphaned girl with special needs named Mikisa... and she is a beautiful little girl!  Since the start of her blog, Christina has gotten married and has another sweet baby.  The family's devotion for the Lord is precious!

12.) Through Orange Colored Glasses by Milton. Milt is my friend and the president of Christian Relief Fund, where I work.  His thoughts about the Lord, about missions, and about his travels around the world serving orphans are always incredibly inspiring.

13.) But the greatest of these is love.  Renee lives in Uganda and serves malnourished children, teaching their mothers how to keep them healthy and nursing them back to health.  Her before and after photos are amazing.  She is doing great things!  Renee hasn't posted in forever, but I'm not giving up hope because hers is one of my very favorite blogs. 

What are some blogs that you enjoy following? 

Follow my blog on BlogLovin!

Two years ago: Reasons to Smile

Every adventure ever.

Day 1: List 10 random facts about yourself.

This took me way too long.  Thinking of ten random facts is way harder than I thought it would be.  This is probably because I share most random facts on this blog as I discover them!  But here are the first ten that popped into my head. 

1.) I call myself an optimistic pessimist.  I'm not a true pessimist at all, but I'm not overly optimistic either.  I like to say, "I expect things to go wrong, but I want to make the best of it."  It works for me. 

2.) The most common thing I'm teased for is smiling too much.  It's funny, because I used to never, never smile.  I was way too shy.  And now I just can't stop!  

3.) My love languages are, in order, quality time, words of affirmation, receiving gifts, acts of service, and physical touch.

4.) I can longboard.  I'm no expert, but I can and do ride to class during the year.  I'm also excellent at falling off and getting a concussion.

5.) I'm learning Swahili.  As of recently.  Also, I know quite a bit of American Sign Language, due to taking four semesters over the last two years. 

6.) You can often find me wearing a heavy jacket in the middle of summer.  I get cold way too easily!  In Africa, I actually fit in.  Even though it was warm, it's their cold season, so everyone was wearing long sleeves! 

7.) I have been redeemed.  I am cherished by the Creator of the universe.  Wow! 

8.) I have a shrunken head in my bedroom.  It's not real, but I put it next to a bunch of trinkets I brought back from Africa, so most people I know do actually think it's legitimate.  The best gift I've ever received from my little brother.

9.) Four years ago today, I was baptized.  In a swimming pool.  One of my very favorite days.

10.) In 5th-7th grade, I wrote a series of "books" about a girl named Jessie who went on every adventure I could possibly think of.  At different points, she was an Indian chief, a survivor of a shipwreck, a spy, captured by kidnappers, sold into slavery, trekked through the Saharan desert, had an islander best friend, had a talking dog, found out she had an identical twin she never knew about... and best of all, this series was an extremely big hit among my friends.  Every day I would go to school and pass out the latest chapter.

That was a long last fact, but it sure made me laugh.  What are some random facts about you?

Two years ago: Happy Birthday, Ali! and His Whisper

How to Find Community in the Summer

The first summer after I started college is marked in my memory as a summer of trial.  In part, this is because my family was having a difficult time.  My grandma found out she had breast cancer, my little sister was struggling, and my household seemed entirely attacked by the enemy.  Another big struggle for me last summer was loneliness.

While I'm at college, I am a member of a few Bible studies, Christian organizations, and outreach.  My church is a place where I feel at home.  Community surrounds me.  This is where I was at the end of my second semester of college... and then I came home.

I suddenly felt stranded from the college-aged community that had blessed me so much.  I don't connect well with my home church.  There was no young adult Bible study or college ministry available.  Many of my friends didn't stay in town for the summer or they had drifted away from their faith since high school.  In a town you might call the buckle of the Bible belt, I struggled to find any form of community.  And it was hard.

You may be concerned about the same for this summer.  Whether or not you're returning from college, these next three months can be a time of spiritual drought or of sweet, refreshing time spent with Jesus.

Today I will share some tips that have helped me in finding Christian community during the summer.

1.)  Create community.  If you go to seek out a small group or Bible study within your church that fits your needs and you cannot find any, do not resign yourself to being stranded without community.  You are not stuck.  Perhaps the Lord has placed an opportunity to lead and serve in your lap.

If you cannot find community, spend time asking the Lord to provide it.  And be prepared to be the one He asks to take leadership.

2.)  Branch out.  If you are seeking out community in the form of a Bible study or small group, but it isn't something your home church offers, don't be afraid to seek out community from other churches for the summer.  You can continue to attend your home church regularly, but join another church's Bible study.

This is no form of betrayal.  Whether or not we use different buildings, we are the Body of Christ.  We have one Head in Jesus Christ.  Community must not only be found within the walls of your church and among the faces of your congregation.  If your church is not meeting a need and is unable to do so, allow another part of the Body of Christ to fill you in that way. 

3.)  Find community within your family.  You may have parents, siblings, or even grandparents who are devoted to the Lord and actively pursuing Christ.  If so, consider starting a time of worship within your household.  God created families as units of love and community.  Do not be afraid to seek this out from yours.

If you do not live in a Christian home, this may not be able to apply to you, but continue to lift your family up to the Lord.  He is so faithful.

4.)  Don't go into the summer expecting sameness.  If you are still in school, summers will obviously be different from the school year.  Your schedule and routine will change.  Your source of community will probably change.  And as wonderful or as difficult as your summer may have been last year, it will not be the same this time around.  Your emotions will be different.  Your experiences will vary.  Your family life will work in a slightly different way.  You will have grown further in your relationship with the Lord.

Do not rely on high or low expectations to define your summer before it even begins.  It's going to be different than it ever has been before.  Be prepared to spend three months in newness and growth in Christ.  In a summer of wilderness or a summer of refreshment, the Lord desires to fill you with good things.

5.)  Use this time to rest in the presence of the Lord.  With each tip listed above, you may be thinking, "This won't work.  I am completely alone this summer."  No matter how stranded you are from a community of believers, do not feel overwhelmed or alone.  You have not been forsaken.

This time may be a gift from a Father who desires to spend more one-on-one time with you.  Perhaps community and involvement have become more important to you than your personal relationship with Christ.  Community is sweet, but quiet time spent kneeling at the foot of His throne is even sweeter.

If you are approaching a summer of loneliness and lack of community, do not fear.  Use this time for resting in the presence of your Abba.  He longs to commune with you.  He is eager to spend this summer shaping your gaze until it rests fully on Him and His perfect, unfaltering love for you.

As long as you are in His presence, you are not alone.

Lamentations 3:22-26
Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."  The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

One year ago: I can't frat snap.

Maintaining a Fruitful Quiet Time in Summer (Part II)

If you missed last Tuesday's post, check it out here.

Here are a few more tips and encouragements to maintaining a fruitful quiet time during the summer months.

Journal during your quiet times.  Write down prayers as well as praises.  Keep notes of things you learn from your quiet time, questions you have, and where you are reading in the Bible.  Consider taking notes when you are at church.

Journaling, even if if it doesn't come naturally to you and you don't have much to say, is ultimately such a blessing for your spiritual walk.  In a matter of weeks and over the years, you can look back and tangibly see and remember ways the Lord has moved in your life, as well as how you have grown in your faith.

Don't be afraid to skip around.  While I encourage you to finish an entire book in order to get its full meaning, it's okay to read from a few places at once.  In a typical quiet time, I read chapters from three or four places in the Bible.  I go through each book (over the course of a few weeks), but I read from several.  For example, I am currently going through Ruth, Psalms, Jeremiah, and John.  When I finish John, I will probably begin Galatians, and so on.

I often use the idea of reading from two books in the Old Testament, at least one in the New Testament, and then a Psalm.  By moving around each day, I am able to see God's powerful plans from a broad perspective.  Seeing a passage from John relate so clearly to a prophecy in Jeremiah is amazing.  The Gospel is declared fully from Genesis to Revelation, and it is a precious thing to see God's love proclaimed from a book as obscure as Zechariah.  I've been asked how I keep track of where I am.  Bookmarks, of course!

If you are uncomfortable switching around in a day, try moving after you finish each book of the Bible.  There is something difficult in moving in order through the Bible.  It's easy to become burned out if in the last three months, you've only read from Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.  Bring balance to the time you spend in the Word. 

Mark where you've read.  One of the most helpful quiet time tips I have ever received came from Ben Stuart, the head of Breakaway Ministries.  He keeps a weekly podcast, and last summer he taught about quiet times.  The link for the episode is here.  I gained so much from his advice.

Stuart encourages listeners to mark in your Bible after you have read each book.  While some books are more difficult to read than others, they are all the Word of God.  Each page holds valuable treasure worth studying.  When you have your quiet time, it is easy to read from John and James a hundred times and never turn to books like Hosea or Habakkuk to find the truths held within them.

Each time you read a book of the Bible, make an "x" next to its name in the Table of Contents.  In a few months, look back.  If you have multiple "x's" next to some books and nothing by others, it may be time to change up what you're reading.  Keeping track of where you've read in the Bible will help you to read God's Word in its wholeness, which will be so beneficial to your growth. 


I hope these challenges and ideas were a source of encouragement to you.  Remember that these were all ideas I have personally found beneficial in maintaining a fruitful quiet time.  The time you spend with God will look different, and that's a good thing.  Spend time with Jesus in prayer, worship, and the Word, and your quiet time will be fruitful, no matter what tools you use.

Two years ago: Blogging: When to Write

Maintaining a Fruitful Quiet Time in Summer (Part I)

A common summer struggle is maintaining a regular quiet time.  During the school year, you have a routine: spending time in the Word before your first class, one-on-one time with God before you go to bed at night, but then summer begins and everything spins off-kilter.  Your schedule changes and it's far too easy to put quiet times on the back burner.  Suddenly, you sleep in late and stay out with friends until the early morning hours.  You spend a few weeks at a camp or on a family vacation and you just keep forgetting to spend time with your Father.

Perhaps you've been struggling to keep a quiet time for a while now and you would like to use this summer to focus on creating time each day to spend on prayer and growth in your relationship with Jesus.

While 2 Thessalonians 5:17 tells Christians to pray continually, you should still make time to sit and commune with God, the Creator of the universe, the Father who longs for you to know Him more.  Psalm 46:10 says, "Be still and know that I am God."  It is important to live each day in conversation with the Lord, but there is also so much value in spending focused one-on-one time with Him.

If you are eager to begin this summer with a renewed focus on your quiet times, I will be sharing ideas and encouragements today and next Tuesday.

1.) Make goals, not rules.  One of the biggest mistakes I've made when having quiet times is planning a detailed routine instead of simply spending time with my Father because it brings me delight and because He is worthy to be praised.  Be cautious as you make quiet time plans, such as going through the Bible in a year or following a study schedule.  While these challenges are great tools to staying accountable and better knowing the Word, they can easily drain the passion and life right out of your quiet times.

A few years back, I committed to reading through the Bible in a year.  The tool I used had me reading through several chapters a day.  Reading five chapters of Numbers in a row and then ending my quiet time on that note was difficult.  On days when I was busy and only read one chapter, I found myself feeling stressed out because I had nine chapters to read the next day.  Needless to say, after a few months, I quit.  I felt burned out and tired because of the quiet time legalism I had created for myself.

Time with the Lord should not be burdensome.  It should be filled with restoration and great joy.  Communion with your Creator is a precious thing.

If you choose to use a year-long Bible reading tool, don't follow it religiously.  If you miss days, there is no need to overwhelm yourself trying to catch up.  If you finish in fourteen months instead of twelve, it's fine.

Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you as you study the Word.  Some days, you might spend a couple of hours worshiping and reading through the Gospels.  Other days, you might read a few verses from Proverbs.  There may be days when you forget.  Don't establish stressful rules for yourself.  Seek the Lord and spend the time with Him that you need.  A daily quiet time does not always need to look the same.

2.) Devotionals are not meant to replace spending time in the Word.  You may be searching for a devotional to use during your quiet time.  These are helpful tools to add growth and passion to your time in the Word.  During spiritual droughts, devotionals can offer encouragement, as well as helpful information when you are struggling to understand certain passages. 

There are some daily devotionals that are filled with joyful truths, like My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers and Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.  If you choose to use a daily devotional, be sure not to become entangled in routine or allow your devotional to be more important to your daily quiet time than the Word.

From experience, I once used a year-long daily devotional during my quiet time.  It bothered me to miss a day in the book, so if I was in a hurry that day, I would read from the devotional rather than spend time gleaning from the actual Bible.

Devotionals do not replace time spent in God's Word.  They are only to encourage growth and understanding as you continue to study the Bible.

Sometimes, instead of a daily devotional, I've used inspirational Christian books during my quiet time, such as Crazy Love by Francis Chan, The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel, or Live Like a Jesus Freak by dc Talk.  These books have encouraged me to live a passionate lifestyle, while pointing me to truths in the Bible.  I have also read chapters from autobiographies and biographies of influential Christian missionaries like Amy Carmichael and George Muller, eager to see how they walked with Christ.  Again, these books are wonderful encouragements, but they do not replace time spent in the actual Word.

Finally, you could consider using a study Bible or Apologetics tools to help you further your understanding of the Word.  You could also use varying translations of the Bible.

Devotionals can be huge blessings as you take time to grow in the Word, but they are meant to be helpful tools for quiet times, never the focus.

Next week, I will finish tips for maintaining a fulfilling quiet time over the summer.

Two years ago: How Jesus's Sacrifice Can Make Sense to Muslims and Blogging: The Right Name
One year ago: Tatters

20 Weird Facts About Emily

Today I thought I would share twenty weird facts about me.  Some of them you might know; some of them you might not.  In saying this, I expect you to post at least a few facts about yourself in the comments.  This way, we can all get to know each other a little better.  :)

Before we begin, in case you're new to Emily is Smiling and don't know anything about me, I'll start with five basics, so you won't get the weirdest first: My name is Emily.  I'm twenty.  I'm a college student.  I have a huge heart for Africa.  I am an intern for Christian Relief Fund. 

Now that that's over, here are twenty (kind of) weird facts about me.

1.  My middle name is Nicole.  Even though it is a pretty common middle name, I used to like it so much that I would name all of the protagonists in my stories Nicole... especially if they were princesses.

2.  My dream pet is a Morkie.  That's right; a Maltese and a Yorkie mixed together.  Yes, it's a real thing and I want one.

3.  Because I was homeschooled throughout my childhood years, most of my memories growing up are a little bizarre.  I had many adventures conjured up by my big imagination and happily enjoyed by my two younger siblings and next-door neighbors.

4.  For example, I used to be convinced that Peter Pan was real.  I loved the book, and each night, I would wait for him to arrive at my window and take me off to Neverland.  Many of my stories and poems from my early elementary years were about Peter Pan.

5.  I had an imaginary best friend named Space for at least two years.  We would ride around on our imaginary Great Dane.  (Imagine what any sane child or adult was thinking after having a conversation with me during this time of my life.)

6.  My closet is color-coded very particularly.  Two colors tend to take up the most space: maroon and blue.

7.  My favorite crayon color is blue.  Just blue.  Perhaps I'm a little predictable.

 

8.  We have a prayer room in my little college house.  It is certainly a sanctuary of peace and quiet, a great place to hide out after a chaotic day (and I have many of those).

9.  I have been to fourteen countries, including: the USA, Mexico, Canada, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Haiti, England, France, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Holland, and Kenya.  I will be returning to Kenya in June with Christian Relief Fund, if it's God's will.

10.  My worst fear is sharks.  I cannot even look at a picture of a shark without feeling a little sick.  Something about their awful beady eyes gets to me.  Ugh.

11.  I can type 140 words per minute.

12.  Once upon a time, I had blonde, curly hair.  Now my hair is brown and ranges from wavy to straight.

13.  I've taken four semesters of American Sign Language.  I'm fluent enough to hold a conversation, but I'm not nearly at the level of an interpreter.

14.  I don't speed.  I wrote a blog post about this when I first started driving.  On the downside, I get teased a lot by my friends for driving like a grandma.  On the upside, I've never gotten a speeding ticket or even pulled over... and most of my friends have.

15.  I am utterly obsessed with Sour Patch Kids.  Any kind.  I love them all.

16.  If I'm in the car, I'm probably singing.

17.  For Christmas this year, I got a backpack guitar... and I love it.

18.  I could eat the same thing every meal, every day.  And since I'm in college, not the most experienced cook, and in charge of my own meals, I tend to do so.

19.  I have a thing about not touching door handles with my hands.  I wouldn't consider myself to be extremely OCD, but I certainly have my tendencies, and touching public surfaces with my hands is what gets me.

20.  If a car follows me for very long, I usually think they're a murderer following me home.  Many nights, I end up taking weird routes home so the car following behind me won't know where I live.  And then I finally make it home safe and sound and laugh at my own silliness.

What are twenty weird facts about you?

Three years ago: Poverty: Education
Two years ago: Hypnotized Kittens and The Qur'an and the Bible
One year ago: Trust in the Lord

5 Reasons Why You Should Blog

I'm starting a mini-series about blogging.  I've been blogging somewhat consistently since 2009, so for nearly four years.  Quite often, people will approach me in person or in email and ask for tips about blogging.  Every Tuesday for the month of April, I will be sharing blogging tips and encouragements for all of you who blog or are considering taking up blogging.  If you are encouraged or have any feedback or additions to what I have to say, please feel free to share in the comments below.

Five reasons why you should take up blogging:

1.)  It's a ministry.  When I first started to blog as a junior in high school, my reason was to write.  I have a writing itch; I always have.  If I go more than a day without writing, I find it difficult to concentrate.  Instead of writing each day in a journal no one ever read, I thought I would share pieces of my heart with anyone who cared to read them.  I blogged for a solid year, doubting that anyone really read what I had to say, although I received thoughtful comments now and then.  In April of 2010, I learned how to check my stats for the first time and was stunned to see that my blog had received over 100k views.  Wow.

In recent years, my email inbox and comments have been full of responses, many of them being questions about faith.  Since 2010, I have realized more and more what a ministry tool blogging can be.  Each day, I can have a conversation about the Gospel and about Christ with people I may never meet.  I can encourage girls who struggle with things the Lord has helped me to overcome.  My blog has become more of a ministry than a journal, although I use it for both things.

Being able to use the daily things I write in a way that glorifies the Lord and bring others closer to Him is such an honor and a blessing.

If you have been considering starting a blog of your own, consider it as a ministry for you to pursue.  You are reaching others with your words.  You can share what the Lord reveals to you each day.  Blogging is a ministry. 

2.)  Blogging captures memories.  Whenever I travel or leave the country, I blog about my experiences, writing in detail about what I learned and saw, and sharing photographs alongside each memory.  I love turning back to my posts from July, 2009, when I journeyed to Kenya, Africa with Christian Relief Fund.

If you enjoy traveling, consider keeping a blog.  You can capture your memories in an online journal while sharing your experiences and prayer requests with friends and family.

3.)  It's a conversation.  I have been able to communicate with hundreds of people over the last four years through this blog.  When I share something, I don't intend for it to be one-sided.  I love to hear what others have to say.  Conversations are started.  Encouraging comments and emails have literally brightened my days.

The conversations you have through your blogging community can be encouraging and excellent learning opportunities. 

4.)  Your writing skills will improve.  Although blogging is delightfully informal, the more you write, the more you improve.  I can easily say that my writing style has improved since I started blogging four years ago.  I can sort out my thoughts more easily and communicate through what I write much more clearly than when I first started blogging. 

5.)  Express yourself.  We live in a big world.  It's difficult to make your voice heard.  Your blog may get ten views a month, but your voice will be out there.  What has the Lord been teaching you today?  What is a trial you've conquered and made it through?  How could you encourage someone going through the same thing?

Your blog can be your voice.  Share what you have to say.  Communicate with people like you.  Open your heart.  Vent your frustrations.  Praise God for His faithfulness.  Ultimately, blogging is an expression of your thoughts and values.  It's your voice. 

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On May 1, I will have a Blogging Q&A where I will answer any questions you have about blogging.  Leave your questions in the comments, tweet them to me @emilytheperson, email them at emilytheperson@yahoo.com, or send me a message on my tumblr.

Two years ago: No More Sameness