FINAL 2014 RESOLUTION UPDATE

2014 TO-DO LIST  

1. Finish the book that's been in the works for 2 years.  
So....that didn't happen. Better luck to year 3 of working on this book!!

 
2. Become more dedicated in my quiet time. 

Still not as consistent as I would like it to be.

3.Investing more in my relationship with God.  
 

I think this is something I will be working on for the rest of my life.

4. Reading the Bible all the way through.  

'This one did not work out this year, unfortunately.'
 
5. Working out more; getting in better shape. 
Got out of it over the holidays, and am now back on track. I'm in the "UGHHHH" phase currently.

 
6. Keep my room clean. 

 

Funny, my dorm room stays spotless, but I'm about to take a weed whacker to my room at home. 
 
7. Get my license. 
 

I drive myself places now. Cause I can drive and stuff. Wanna go to Walgreens? No prob, I can drive. Jk, I can, but I won't. Still hate driving.

8. Get a job. 
"I am planning on getting a job at a local bookstore next summer at home and saving some dough."

9. Go to college. 
Completed my first semester of college with all As and one B!! Woot woot ;D

 
10. Being more conscious of what you eat.
 

Yeah....better luck next year ;)
 
11. Write more on the side of the novel mentioned above.

 

Goal accomplished!! I write on things other than the one I'm supposed to be actually writing on all the time! >.< 

12. Read more. 

I've been reading more over break :)
 
13. Don't spend as much time online. 

"I do but I don't...I mainly watch something for entertainment, but I'm off and running around with friends just as much if not more...it's a balance."
  Still stands, I would say.

 
14. Get better at guitar. 
 

I didn't actually expect to once I moved off to college, but I actually have, working on picking and such. Woot woot!
 
15. Graduate. 

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. I AM NOW A COLLEGE WOMAN.
 
16. Grow your hair out. Don't. Cut. Your. Hair. This. Year.

 

Update on rebellious hair cutting -

It's a little past my shoulders now, as you can see from the pic below. It's a little longer than it looks there, but whatever. I tried to cut layers in my own hair. Note to self - never, ever, ever try to cut your own hair. Like, ever. Bad, horrible idea. My hair has just settled into resentment and not complete loathing of me. It is also red-ish. It was bright auburn, but it was temporary dye. I like the color it is for now :)

 

 

17. Be a better friend. 

  One of the hardest and most important things I've had to learn over the semester. Still quite a bit of

18. Be bolder with the Gospel.  

'I haven't gone evangelizing or anything like that this year unfortunately, but I've tried to be more bold with bringing up the Gospel and the Lord in day to day conversation, and I think I can say I've gotten better at that. '

19. Write on paper sometimes. 
 

It's a wonderful thing, and I still do it, I just write better and more often if it's on the computer.
 
20. Keep a journal.  

Haven't actually journal-ed in my actual journal in a bit, but I have evernote-ed, so that's good :)

 
21. Invest in other people more.  
 

Definitely been working on this with lots of new people and friends coming into my life.

22. Go on a mission trip. 
How I miss the Bahamas.
 
23. Get more sleep this semester. 
 

So I basically have been asleep since I got home. Yep. Stay up till 3, sleep till 12.

24. Paint your nails sometimes.  

 

Now I just don't like the look of my nails unless they're painted. Currently they are gold. 

25. Be happy.  
 
 
26. Knit one garment for yourself this year. 

'So....I had almost gotten most of it done....and then the pattern started speaking another language. Maybe I'll finish it some other time. *sigh*'
 
27. Start saving money for the future.

Thank you graduation money donators...especially now that I'm in college. You have kept me from starving at midnight.

 
28. Start an inspirational notebook. 

'Hmm.. I had forgotten about this. Still want to do it though!'

29. Wear scarves more often. 

I have actually worn scarves a few times for just about the first time ever. Cool Beans. 

30. Be. Patient. 

'This is going to be one of those life long struggles. BUT I WANT TO FIX IT NOW.'
 
31. Don't worry about things you have no control over.  

'Pretty good about this, but nobody can remain completely stress free all the time. If you're stressed it means you're concerned about something. But yeah, I'd say I'm a good balance these days.'

32. Blog more. 

Yeah....whoops.

 
33. Get your arm patched up.  

"The scar is even fading! Though, you know, it's kinda a part of who I am by now I feel like."
34. Go to prom and party. 

'WE CAME. WE SAW. WE PARTIED HARD. And then we went for ice cream and watched the Matrix. The end. '   <3

35. Start the new writing curriculum.  

'Haven't finished the first draft of the other yet.'
~ 

 

 

So there you have it. My New Years resolutions. I feel like this was more for me than anything else, but it was definitely helpful to have this on here. Today is the last day of 2014, and what a year it has been! It has been filled with its fair share of hardships and trials, as well as laughter and blessings beyond imagination. I have made new friends and fallen away from others, and am definitely a different person from when this year started. I think I'm quite alright with that though. I think I like the person I'm becoming, and those who are doing life with me.  I can't wait to see what this next year holds, and I'll post new resolutions in a few day. Peace out 2014!!

 

 

  24/35 completed. Pretty good ;)

Scribblings from English Class

Poems are written by the inspired,
Novels are written by the distracted

Resolution Update #5

2014 TO-DO LIST  

1. Finish the book that's been in the works for 2 years.  
Um...yeah, so I'm in college now, and have officially no time. Well, at least it is very difficult to find time to write. I haven't given up that I will write on it during the semester though!

 
2. Become more dedicated in my quiet time. 

A little bit more, but since moving it's been challenged again. Slowly getting back into it, as with plenty of other things. I'm going through "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan :)

3.Investing more in my relationship with God.  
 

I believe this will be challenged here at Bryan more than anywhere else I would have gone.

4. Reading the Bible all the way through.  

'This one did not work out this year, unfortunately.'
 
5. Working out more; getting in better shape. 
I got out of the swing of it since moving, but am slowly but surely getting back up to it. I'm constantly worn out though, and motivation is sometimes hard to work up. 

 
6. Keep my room clean. 

 

The Queen and I keep our room pretty clean, actually! It's so nice and makes it easier to study in :)
 
7. Get my license. 

GOT MY LICENSE YALL. I'M LEGAL. I even drove my brother and I to Starbucks the other day. What what. 

8. Get a job. 
I am planning on getting a job at a local bookstore next summer at home and saving some dough.

9. Go to college. 
I'm writing from my dorm, had my first exam and two quizzes today, and been doing homework since, have lovely new friends (including my roommate, The Queen, nicknamed such because of her first and middle names, Victoria Elizabeth, run around campus all day long, and am having a blast!

10. Being more conscious of what you eat.
So for the first week and a half here I pretty much didn't....ad my face exploded with acne. Making another post on that later, but let's just say I straightened up my ways, and it's paid off.
 
11. Write more on the side of the novel mentioned above. 
 

It's slowed to a standstill, with only journal entries really since I moved, but again, hoping to start this back up, especially in the next couple of days.

12. Read more. 

I wish I had read more over the summer, because now I'm pretty much just reading textbooks :?
 
13. Don't spend as much time online. 

I do but I don't...I mainly watch something for entertainment, but I'm off and running around with friends just as much if not more...it's a balance.
 
14. Get better at guitar. 

I pick it up every few days and play a song and sing in my dorm room a wee bit on the quiet side. It's fun and relaxing.
 
15. Graduate. 

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. I AM NOW A COLLEGE WOMAN.
 
16. Grow your hair out. Don't. Cut. Your. Hair. This. Year. 

It's growing out now, and I kinda am starting to miss my long hair with my hoodies and the cold weather coming. Anyway, here's my hair from the other day when one of my hall mates straightened it for me. First time I've straightened it since chopping it off, and I loved it! It was down to my shoulders when flat. I'm hoping by Christmas it'll be just a bit past my shoulders when regular and I'll be able to start putting it up in fun ways again :)

  

17. Be a better friend. 

Working on it; always room for improvement. I've had to start being a good friend to a lot of new people, which is a hard thing to do, but has been so rewarding. Working on still being a good friend to my FAM, and it's tricky at times, with everyone so busy and schedules clashing or just not available. But they're true friends, so I'm sure we'll be able to figure something out.

18. Be bolder with the Gospel.  

'I haven't gone evangelizing or anything like that this year unfortunately, but I've tried to be more bold with bringing up the Gospel and the Lord in day to day conversation, and I think I can say I've gotten better at that. '

19. Write on paper sometimes. 

'Oh my goodness, the wonders of doing this. It's a beautiful thing, a blank sheet of paper and a sharpened pencil. Doesn't get much better than that. '
 
20. Keep a journal.  

Oh my goodness gracious. I journal almost every day, and it's the only way I really vent my feelings these days. With the stress and crazies of this new experience, my journal is plumping up fast.
 
21. Invest in other people more.  
 

Definitely been working on this with lots of new people and friends coming into my life.

22. Go on a mission trip. 
How I miss the Bahamas.
 
23. Get more sleep this semester. 
 

Um, yeah, so I wish I could go back to the way things were in this area last time I posted....cause I get 6-7 hours, or less some nights, and it's killer. Need. Sleep.

24. Paint your nails sometimes. 

So my nails somehow got stained yellow while on vacation with my Squirrel, and look kinda nasty, so I've been keeping them painted, which is kinda fun.

25. Be happy.  
 
 
26. Knit one garment for yourself this year. 

'So....I had almost gotten most of it done....and then the pattern started speaking another language. Maybe I'll finish it some other time. *sigh*'
 
27. Start saving money for the future.

Thank you graduation money donators...especially now that I'm in college. You have kept me from starving at midnight.

 
28. Start an inspirational notebook. 

'Hmm.. I had forgotten about this. Still want to do it though!'

29. Wear scarves more often. 

IT'S THE FIRST DAY OF FALL TODAY AND AFTER FALL BREAK OR THANKSGIVING I GET TO GET MY FALL CLOTHES AND SCARVES I'M SO HAPPY. 

30. Be. Patient. 

'This is going to be one of those life long struggles. BUT I WANT TO FIX IT NOW.'
 
31. Don't worry about things you have no control over.  

'Pretty good about this, but nobody can remain completely stress free all the time. If you're stressed it means you're concerned about something. But yeah, I'd say I'm a good balance these days.'

32. Blog more. 

I actually have another blog post or two planned, SO THERE.

 
33. Get your arm patched up.  

The scar is even fading! Though, you know, it's kinda a part of who I am by now I feel like ;)
 
34. Go to prom and party. 

'WE CAME. WE SAW. WE PARTIED HARD. And then we went for ice cream and watched the Matrix. The end. '   <3

35. Start the new writing curriculum.  

'Haven't finished the first draft of the other yet.'
~ 

 

 There you have it. I'm in college - how weird is that? It's going well, and I'm enjoying it :) Hopefully I'll be posting on here again soon!

 

 

 

 

BAHAMAS

Here is the letter I sent out after I got back from my Bahamas trip. Enjoy!

Also, pretty sure I went to the place featured in this photo. 

~

Hello!

I am back from the Bahamas, with darker skin and lighter hair to boot! So sorry I haven’t gotten this out sooner, but I got a slight cold when I returned to the States – not the best welcome! Neither was the snow we got after being in tropical weather for a week!

I had such an amazing time, and this mission trip was definitely a life changing experience. I was so blessed to be able to be a part of an amazing team. We had a blast loving on the kids, playing with them, and building up relationships with them throughout the week. We got a lot of work done on the camp, and helped to prepare Camp Bahamas for the camp season. There’s still work to be done there, but we got an impressive load accomplished in the amount of time we had.

God spoke into my life this week so beautifully, in ways I never imagined. I feel like He has picked me through and organized me. I feel clean and fresh, and ready to do whatever work He has set up for me in the future, near and far.

I feel like one thing God taught me on this trip had to do with heart attitude; how your heart attitude is more important than the end result, and that you can’t judge the end result based off of how you feel about it.  I do that – base results off of how I feel about them. I base the state of God’s and mine’s relationship over how I feel, maybe at the end of a prayer, or how close I feel to Him. Or how much I feel like I impacted the kids, or how much good I feel like I did. It’s not about that – it’s about your goal, and your purpose. If your purpose and goal is to bring God glory, and to follow the path He has set out for you, then you won’t fail, no matter if you feel like you do.

Some of the work we did this week included:

> Chopping down/hauling a small forest (I did more clearing than machete-ing, unfortunately)

> Water sealing a small forest’s worth of wood, including two docks, a ginormous set of stairs, and four or five cabin’s decks

> Organizing the three kitchen pantries and cleaning said kitchen and dining haul

>Raking a field of dried grass

And other assorted odd jobs.

We would complete our morning and early afternoon work, and then head over to the park for VBS. The first day we walked around the surrounding neighborhood to spread the word that we were having VBS, but for the most part for the rest of the week, as soon as we stepped out of the vans, kids were either greeting us, handing us something, or physically attaching themselves to us. They were smart and playful, and gave out as much love to us as we did to them. After VBS we would head back to the camp for an hour of free time, during which we usually jumped into the ocean, and then head over to supper. The food was always so good, especially after being out in the hot sun all day! After supper we would have a debrief of the day and plan out tomorrow, and then would prepare the supplies accordingly for the next day’s VBS.

I made some amazing friends and wonderful memories on this trip, and I hope my team and I conveyed God’s love to all of the kids as He would have had us do. Thank you so, so much for sponsoring me so that I could go and have this experience and opportunity! May God bless you!

~

Resolution Update #4

2014 TO-DO LIST 1. Finish the book that's been in the works for 2 years.  

Still not done. Working on it.Slow going. I keep getting legalistic about the plot, then having trouble fleshing it out into the details. 
 
2. Become more dedicated in my quiet time. 

It's a journey, but I think I probably am better at it now than last year.

3.Investing more in my relationship with God.  

There will always be more I can do here.

4. Reading the Bible all the way through.  

This one did not work out this year, unfortunately. 
 
5. Working out more; getting in better shape. 
In between plagues I've really been enjoying working out and doing yoga and pilates. It's fun and makes me feel better, inside and out.

6. Keep my room clean. 

I am looking at a sparkling clean room as we speak.
 
7. Get my license. 

I believe the appointment has been made!

8. Get a job. 
Due to various plagues and surgeries, I'm afraid that did not happen over the summer. I was pretty bummed about it, but the timing was not right.

9. Go to college. 
AUGUST 23 PEOPLE.

10. Being more conscious of what you eat.
I don't think it gets more "conscious" than not eating sugar or carbs. 
 
11. Write more on the side of the novel mentioned above. 

I have been quite good about this. Lots of little giblets and scribbles and such. 

12. Read more. 

Probably not reading as much as I had intended too, but I am still reading more than I was last year.

 
13. Don't spend as much time online. 

Have gotten better about this as well, especially with friends. Instead of always watching something or browsing the internet, we actually DO something, and honestly, it's SO much more fun. 
 
14. Get better at guitar. 

I would say I have. Working on picking, and picked up the ukelele.
 
15. Graduate. 

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. I AM NOW A COLLEGE WOMAN.
 
16. Grow your hair out. Don't. Cut. Your. Hair. This. Year. 

I couldn't help it. I couldn't, really *blushes and gives sheepish smile* whoops! It's a bob now. But I don't regret it for a second. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my new hair, and how much easier it is to do.

 

17. Be a better friend. 

Working on it; always room for improvement.

18. Be bolder with the Gospel.  

I haven't gone evangelizing or anything like that this year unfortunately, but I've tried to be more bold with bringing up the Gospel and the Lord in day to day conversation, and I think I can say I've gotten better at that. 

19. Write on paper sometimes. 

Oh my goodness, the wonders of doing this. It's a beautiful thing, a blank sheet of paper and a sharpened pencil. Doesn't get much better than that. 
 
20. Keep a journal.  

I have journal-ed some, but not as much as I had intended to. Maybe I'll journal some after this. 
 
21. Invest in other people more.  

I hope I have? I'm not really sure how to tell, other than to just try, and I'm pretty sure I've been doing that. 

22. Go on a mission trip. 
Such a beautiful experience. Still have not uploaded that letter. I'll do that after this.
 
23. Get more sleep this semester. 

I believe I can safely say I have accomplished this goal. I'm even waking up early (6-7) and going to bed early and it feels so good. We'll see how long this will last ;)

24. Paint your nails sometimes. 

*stares at nail polish collection sitting next to her and looks down at painted naile*
Yep. 

25. Be happy.  
 
 
26. Knit one garment for yourself this year. 

So....I had almost gotten most of it done....and then the pattern started speaking another language. Maybe I'll finish it some other time. *sigh*
 
27. Start saving money for the future.

Thank you graduation money donators!

 
28. Start an inspirational notebook. 

Hmm.. I had forgotten about this. Still want to do it though!

29. Wear scarves more often. 

Um. Not in this weather I don't.

30. Be. Patient. 

This is going to be one of those life long struggles. BUT I WANT TO FIX IT NOW.
 
31. Don't worry about things you have no control over.  

Pretty good about this, but nobody can remain completely stress free all the time. If you're stressed it means you're concerned about something. But yeah, I'd say I'm a good balance these days. 

32. Blog more. 

...How many blog posts have I posted today? We'll go with that qualifies for this one.

 
33. Get your arm patched up.  

Hey look, my arm's not oozing!!
 
34. Go to prom and party. 

WE CAME. WE SAW. WE PARTIED HARD. And then we went for ice cream and watched the Matrix. The end. 

35. Start the new writing curriculum.  

Haven't finished the first draft of the other yet. 
~ 

It's been a wonderful, wonderful summer so far! I'm enjoying it so much and can't wait for what happens next!