A Need for Restoration

Hi there,

Please forgive my longer-than-expected absence from the blogging world. Lately, my life has consisted of a whirlwind of events that have all brought me to a state of tiredness and the longing for restoration and a bit of peace. It seems these days, that once I do get a "break", that it's only a few days of rest until the next curveball hits. Honestly, I wouldn't usually be too open about my sufferings but I just wanted everyone to know that I may continue to be MIA for a bit, while I regroup and find a healthy place to begin blogging again.

Those who would like to be updated on my life and/or ask how they can keep me in their prayers are welcome to reach out, though I may not be able to share every little suffering with you. I am learning about this thing called "sharing your burdens" with others. I tend to be much more comfortable listening to other peoples' problems than sharing my own but I am slowly learning and growing in this area. It truly isn't healthy to keep everything bottled away, only for it all to haunt you later and burst unexpectedly. I do believe God will bring good things from the "storms" in my life, but since I am currently in the midst of it all, I am having a hard time seeing the "light at the end of the tunnel" (not to sound too "emo"). Prayers and encouragement are most appreciated, as always. :)

All this said, I do miss blogging and feel like it is a wonderful outlet for storing and sharing my thoughts and feelings about things that matter to me. If there are any of you who have some ideas for future blog posts that I could write-please let me know. On a side note- I recently finished reading a biography on Princess Diana, and am currently reading one on Grace Kelly and her life with Prince Rainier. I may write a random post on that shortly since they have been rather intriguing reads for me (I never thought I would enjoy biographies so much-though they are sadder than I ever imagined).

Blessings,
Anna

God's Faithful Provision

Hello there! 

I will soon wrap up my "Keys to a Modest Wardrobe" series (for real-I know I keep saying this) but today I just want to share in my appreciation for something God has been teaching me this past year. 

I have almost been married for a WHOLE YEAR now! From what I've heard from other married couples, it seems to be split 50/50 on how they perceive their first year of marriage. About a half of married couples have told me that the first year was definitely the hardest, while the other half have said they cherish that first year.

 For me, I'd have to say the first (almost) year has been both something I will cherish greatly and look back on and realize that it was indeed a challenge! I cherish all the extra time I was given to spend with my husband, getting to know him, care for him, and learn to deal with challenges as a team. This has been such a blessing, even though the flip side has been the struggle of us both being unemployed for a longer time than either of us ever expected.  Though it's most definitely been tough at times (and we both have suffered moments of weakness where we felt like succumbing to evil thoughts/actions) we have been shown God's grace and favor over and over. 

When we were down to what seemed like our last penny, God stepped in and demonstrated his provision in the sweetest of ways-Through the generosity of others, through random jobs here and there, through unexpected Etsy store orders, through a large tax return, through a surprise check that is going to allow JD and I to attend my brother's wedding in June...the list goes on! Not once were we forced to starve. Not once did we wonder if we would be living on the streets next week. 

On a humorous note- We have had a few weeks where we had to be creative with our grocery list (sometimes it was ramen noodles and cheap hot dogs, which we tired of pretty quickly) or refrain from driving any farther than the post office or grocery store to save on gas. We've found that even during those times when we had to actively make choices to live more simply, we appreciated what we did have and we were happy to be overcoming these challenges together and with God's help.  

However-In my weakest moments, I struggled with trusting God. I worried over where the money for rent would come from, I worried about what the future held, I even had some fears about not being able to afford having a child one day! I worried, I worried, and I worried some more. God definitely smacked that worry out of me by providing faithfully every time we were in need. He is so very gracious, loving and merciful. 

God not only provided for us financially in miraculous ways, but he has provided us with so much more. He provided us with one another, to love, care for and solve problems together. He provided a new church family that welcomed us and gave us solid biblical teaching. He provided new friends for us both. He provided JD with a new job recently that will cover all our monthly costs from now on. Most of all, God provided us with living examples of his everlasting love, protection, grace, and provision for his children.

I just felt like sharing all of this with you all, to encourage you in times where you struggle with trusting in God's provision. Remember-Pray to HIM, trust, and believe that he will provide for his children as promised.

Have a blessed weekend, ladies!
Anna

P.S. Here are some of my favorite bible verses about God's provision:

"Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19

"Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" Matthew 6:26

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding." Proverbs 3:5

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Philippians 4:6

"I have cared for you since you were born. Yes, I carried you before you were born. I will be your God throughout your lifetime—until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you." Isaiah 46: 3-4

Avoiding the title of "Gossip Girl"

Hello my beautiful readers!

Today I woke up with the itch to write about something that's been on my mind lately. I am going to take a little detour from my "keys to a modest wardrobe" series and broach a somewhat uncomfortable topic...G O S S I P. I was recently challenged by this topic, after hearing our pastor Steve preach a message titled "Loving God With Your Words". Feel free to listen to his sermon here: 

http://www.gbcob.org/sermon/loving-god-with-your-words 
(copy and paste, and then you can download/stream it) :)

The verses he appropriately chose to focus on were Ephesians 4:29-32:

^{29 "}Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ³² Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

I particularly recall a part of Steve's message where he talked about the feeling of regret after you've said something you know you know you shouldn't have, which may haunt you for days after and cause you and others grief. Steve said he wished that speech worked in a way where we could visually see the string of words leave our mouth, so we could sort of "edit" or take back what we realize could be harmful to others. I can totally relate to this, for I can think of several instances where this could have saved me some future grief.

Most who know me well, know that I am often more of a listener/thinker than a talker. However, I do have some friends (and my mom) who I can gab off to for hours and hours. It is especially those times that I have to be cautious with what is coming out of my mouth. It saddens me that I would be the cause of grief to anyone, just from mere words that came from my mouth. God uniquely designed the human species to be able to use the mouth and tongue for speech and communication with one another...and yet we abuse it every day!

Gossip turns into slander when we purposely want to harm someone's reputation by spreading rumors about them. What instantly comes to mind for me are all the silly celebrity tabloids you see in the grocery store (or online). I feel sad for those celebrities, though same may argue that it's what they signed up for. Still, I can't bring myself to believe that even celebrities who get that all the time don't feel some pain over what is falsely said about them.

Speaking of celebrities, I've come to realize just how obsessed our culture is with DRAMA and gossip. Just flip through the television channels sometime, and I can assure you that you will come up with at least a few examples of this obsession. Shamefully, I have seen a couple episodes of those "Real Housewives" shows and also "The Bachelor". They are full of gossip, drama, slander, and all kinds of other junk. Yet, people are drawn to that stuff.  Why? I think one reason is because it's often more enjoyable to sit back and watch others involved in a drama. You don't (usually) suffer any direct consequences, and yet shouldn't we feel just as much guilt as those involved? I know what God's view would be...Yes, we are just as guilty if we sit back and soak in the drama.

Think of it this way...would you let your younger daughter watch those kinds of shows? Think about how her attitude might change towards her friends...towards you and family? If we are sitting around watching those shows, then we are also setting an example for our little ones. I am speaking to myself here too, because I am just as guilty to being drawn into those shows.

Thankfully, we do have the greatest example of forgiveness.

^{Ephesians 4: 32 "}Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

 We can never full grasp the depths of the gift we've been given of mercy and forgiveness, but we can at the very least appreciate it and remember it as the ultimate guideline to dealing with forgiving others in our own lives. With gossip the consequences can include tears, hurt, sorrow, anger, thoughts of revenge, regret, broken relationships, and even terminated relationships. However, there is always the option of confession, forgiveness, and redemption. When we let our tongues run in an unholy manner, we are offending God. He is our maker and he desires (and commands) us to honor him with our words. Therefore, we must first confess to and seek forgiveness from God. Then, we are to ask for forgiveness from the one(s) we have gossiped about. To me, this is the hardest part. Often times, we may start a string of gossip without even wanting the person being gossiped about to ever know where it all started (we want our sin to stay hidden). We can't hide from God, and I've come to see that many times God will reveal the gossiper so that they may suffer the consequences of their actions. We must humble ourselves and make the first step in mending our wrong, no matter how hard it may be. In turn, we must be forgivers ourselves. If we hold a grudge against our friend for something they've said, then we are not demonstrating a christ-like forgiveness. How can we expect others to forgive us, when we can't forgive others?

Pastor Steve made it clear that "a happy christian does not gossip". I don't know about you...but I know I want to experience the fullest joy possible. I want to start by ridding myself of the sour words that plague my tongue. Granted, I will slip up from time to time because I am not perfect. I do know that I have a faithful savior who will forgive me when I do fall, which is a great assurance.

I challenge myself and my readers to consider how gossip/any unwholesome talk may be affecting your example of a modest, christian woman. Remember, words can stick with a person for a long time and people will start to question your character if your words don't match your beliefs/actions. My newest motto is "A truly beautiful, modest woman does not gossip or let any unwholesome talk leave her lips. Her words are sweet, pure and build up others while honoring God". Okay, so maybe that isn't a motto (since it's a bit lengthy) but this is what I hope to use (as well as Ephesians 4) as a reminder the next time I see an ugly stream of words in my head.

Let's strive to not pick up the title of "gossip girl", ladies. :)

Blessings,
Anna

Keys 8-10

Happy Tuesday!

I will go ahead and get right to the meat and potatoes of my post for today, which focuses on the next 3 keys of a modest wardrobe. Keys 8-10 are listed below:

8. Layer it on

9. Don't Judge

10. Be Confident but Save the Sexy

Key #8: Layer it on

Key 8 is all about finding ways to work with what you have to create a more modest look. Admittedly, there can be some pretty cute tops that have a fun pattern or look, but are missing the important modesty aspect. I have a few tops and dresses that (if worn alone) could be considered low cut, too short or immodest. The easy solution for this is to use layers. Coordinating tank tops/spaghetti strap shirts worn underneath are an excellent way to solve the issue of a low-cut or short/cropped shirt. I have several of these in various colors, to go with a lot of my wardrobe. A white and a black tank are the basics you might want to start off with, and then experiment with other colors to match your wardrobe. 

Sweaters/cardigans are another favorite layering item of mine. I personally don't care to wear spaghetti strap shirts or dresses on their own, but I will still find cute tops or dresses with small straps that I fall in love with. The solution- throw on a sweater or cardigan! I know, summer can be more difficult especially when you want to be wearing the least amount of layers as possible...but there are lighter sweaters, cover ups, short sleeved boleros, etc. available out there for those of us who choose not to expose that area of our bodies. I think some women CAN pull off spaghetti straps or even strapless clothing beautifully and still maintain a modest look, but it just isn't for me. I personally save those items for just wearing around the house. 

A few other wonderful layering items are leggings/tights and scarves. For colder weather, these are especially nice for keeping warm and they are fashionable as well. Leggings have really made a come back lately, so it isn't like you have to feel like you're in an 80's movie when you go out in them. :) I like to wear leggings with both short and long dresses usually with a pair of my favorite boots. This results in a look that is trendy, warm and modest. Scarves are a super fun accessory, they can be worn in many different ways, and they are also fairly easy to crochet/knit. Scarves can jazz up a basic sweater, or can make a cute head covering, or even cover up an immodest neckline. Oh, the 80's. 

Key #8: Don't Judge

Okay, so I will come right out and admit that this is one of the keys that I struggle with the most. As humans, it tends to be much easier for us to look at our neighbor and think or say something judgmental   then to see ourselves as the issue. When we judge others, we are being unkind and the Bible is pretty clear about God being the rightful judge of mankind. Matthew 7: 1-5 paints a pretty good picture of what God thinks about Christians judging others:

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

Uh...yeah. Pretty convicting stuff. I have to go back to this verse quite frequently, as a humble reminder to be careful with my where my thoughts take me sometimes. I especially struggle with respecting celebrities/public figures who carry themselves immodestly or dress "trashy". It is easy for me to judge them with human eyes. On the other hand, I feel sadness and compassion for these lost souls, for I know they are trying to fill emptiness in the wrong ways. And yet I cringe whenever I see a Victoria's Secret catalogue lying around, or see a scantily clad woman in a movie, or a billboard bearing too much skin. We live in a world of lost souls who don't know that sometimes don't know immodesty is wrong and sinful, or rather they are lacking the conviction of the Holy Spirit. What is even harder for me, is to not judge those who do recognize the consequences of immodesty, yet still struggle to dress and act in a modest manner. It is too easy to look at these women and call them "hypocrites". However, I need to catch myself and ask for forgiveness when I am quick to judge and think poorly upon these women because every single one of them are seen as precious in my Savior's eyes. I think this may very well be one of my greatest flaws (and yes I realize I'm revealing this to the whole cyber world...those who read my blog anyway lol). I am praying that God continues to give me the gift of compassion towards these women, rather than allow me to carry on this thorn of judgmental thoughts. 

Some application? Rather than be quick to judge, I encourage you to pray and ask God to give you eyes of compassion for those you portray as immodest. Be kind and gracious, building others up rather than tearing them down. If you have a friend or family member who is acting or dressing immodestly, pray for wisdom in dealing with how you can be an influence on this person or be given the words to speak to them about their lifestyle. 

 Key #9: Be Confident but Save the Sexy

The last key for today is pretty self explanatory. Mostly, I just want women to know that confidence doesn't have to mean being sexy. I believe God designed marriage to be the rightful place for women to show off their bodies and "be sexy" but sadly we don't live in a world that often honors God's commands. As christian women, I believe it's important to be respectful with the body God has given us as well as show respect to our husbands, boyfriends and other men we encounter by dressing and acting in a modest manner. This goes back to one of the first keys I discussed, "think like a man". As women, I do believe we desire men to find us attractive, confident and beautiful. Some women take this to the extreme, however, by flaunting their bodies shamelessly to every man they cross. They may feel the best way to exude confidence and/or attract a man is to show off their bodies. Honestly, true confidence comes from within and how you dress doesn't necessarily mean you are confident or lacking confidence. When I think of a confident woman, I picture someone who is secure in who they are and what they believe and usually dresses more on the modest side. When I think of someone who is either over-confident (in a bad way) or one who is lacking confidence, I picture someone who dresses over the top and immodestly. I hope that makes sense? 

So, just a few tips on how to be confident but save the Sexy: 

1. Accept who you are- a beautiful, precious creation of God

2. Love your body- Take care of yourself: physically, emotionally and spiritually

3. Let your attraction be your personality rather than your body

4. Respect yourself and men by dressing modestly

5. Stick with it- Don't let society, friends, family try and change who you are and what you believe. Your confidence should not be depend upon how others perceive you. 

Well, that's all I have for now :) I'll cover the next few keys when I get the chance (or feel motivated) to blog again, hopefully soon!

Blessings, 

Anna

Keys 6&7 Unleash Your Creativity

After a bit of a break from blogging (due to illness, having my laptop commit suicide and our internet deciding to act up)I am back once again. My sweet and smarty of a husband was able to find a way to get my laptop running on "life" support. He's really the greatest. I am suffering from a coughing, sniffling, body aching cold as of now (my body really seems to hate me lately, one thing after another...not the best way to start the new year off :P)Anyway, I can hardly talk but when I do I either sound like a dying whale, a pubescent male or a little whispering girl. Not the best but at least I get to drink lots of tea and I can channel what energy I do have into blogging. ;)

As I'm beginning this post, I'm starting to wonder what direction I'd like this blog to go in the future. I get pretty excited about the constant flooding of ideas swimming around in my head, but figuring out a structure/flavor to my blog is a bit more challenging. Until I decide where I go next in my blogging adventures, I will do as promised and finish up my "keys to a modest wardrobe" series. I am going to clump the next two keys together (6 and 7) because they are pretty similar and they're FUN! Today is all about fun and unleashing your creativity. 

So.....Here are Keys 6&7

6. Be Creative

7. Accessorize

Be Creative.

This key is pretty self explanatory, along with the next one. It's all about creating a style which helps accentuate the beautiful woman you are, while still maintaing a modest look. I love the idea of "re-vamping" your wardrobe whenever you feel the urge to run to the nearest mall, forever 21 or clear out every online store. When the budget doesn't allow an excessive clothing allowance, work with what you've got. At times, I'm tempted to start to dress atrociously just so that someone will recommend me for "what not to wear" and I can get that $5,000 credit card to update my wardrobe and get a fun makeover. However, I'm not crazy about the idea of my face being on everyone's television set. haha.

As an etsy store owner, I appreciate the ability to "upcyle" or reinvent clothing that you already own. Lately, I've been obsessed with making fabric strip banners with materials I already own (old tshirts, jeans, fabric, lace, jute, etc.) Easy, cheap and fun!!

Here is one of my etsy banners :) 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/119838446/shabby-chic-vday-fabric-strip-banner

I also have a pile of defective clothes (holes,faded,broken zippers,stained/bleached shirts,etc.) that I hope to find a creative use for. A sewing machine is definitely on my wish list.

A little TLC and creativity can turn almost any defective, "blah", outdated, or immodest outfit/item of clothing into a fun, new fashion statement. Anyone remember the disney show "That's So Raven"? I'll admit it was a little out there and outright silly at times, but I did admire the way she was able to design and pull off all her crazy outfits. 

7.Accesorize

This is also a fun, simple key to keep in mind. Like I said with Key 6, this is pretty self-explanatory and a great way to bring out your personality. I love accessories because there are so many options and they can add style and pizzazz to any outfit. Scarves, fun jewelry, and hats are my favorite accessories to look for. Below are a few hand selected items that I found while browsing all the lovely accessories online. Forever 21 has cute stuff AND usually has cheap prices. I also like Modcloth, Etsy and Dorothy Perkins. You can even find some steals on Ebay. I just got two really cute Forever 21 earring sets from a seller on Ebay for CHEAP.

Another option is to make your own accessories :) There are so many ways you can be creative in this area! Here is one of my handmade accessories I put up in my etsy store: 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/122292774/ivory-lace-applique-bib-necklace

So, these may not be the most important keys to remember but I do think it's good to keep in mind that dressing modestly should be fun and a way to express yourself. :) Feel free to share your favorite accessories and how you plan to be innovative in creating ways to revamp your wardrobe. UNLEASH YOUR CREATIVITY. 

haha. I love the pronunciation guide. 

Cheers to modesty and creativity!

~Anna

About Me

Hey there!

It's coming down to the last few days of the countdown before Christmas (it's always astounding how quickly it creeps up on us, isn't it?) Instead of counting down the days until I get to see what Santa brought me this year, I am counting down how many days I have left to finish buying/making gifts. Time is rapidly slipping through my fingers, and I have far too many projects going at once. Isn't adult life fun? Actually, I love finding and making gifts for people, it's more the stress of getting everything done in time that's not so much fun! :) 

Anyway, I thought a fun "gift" for my readers would be to tell you a little bit about myself. I am going to take some questions from an "about me" survey (remember those cheesy myspace surveys?? lol) I found as well as some I came up with myself. I will answer honestly, I promise. :) Forgive me for those who already know most or all of the answers-haha. 

So, here are a few things about me that you may or may not know. :)

The Basics.
Full Name: Anna Christine Doupe (maiden name is McMillan)
Age: 23
Eye Color: light blue, though some argue that they are gray sometimes?
Hair Color: Blondie
Siblings: 4 Brothers (Wes-27, John-21, Seth-17, Luke-13)
Righty or Lefty: Righty
Heritage: Part Irish, part English and German I believe?

Favorites.
Color: Mint green... And many shades of blue.
Number: 3
Flowers: Roses, Dahlias, ranunculus, baby's breath
Foods: Cottage cheese, thai food, Italian (PASTA and breads. yum) and homemade burgers (made by my hubby).
Junk Food: I try not to like it...but I do crave MCD's chicken nuggets from time to time...
Drink: Shirley temples (for fancy occasions), Pina coladas (very infrequently), all kinds of TEA, Dr. Pepper, lemonade...lately I love ice water with lemon.
Ice cream flavor: mint chip
Restaurant: Probably the irish/italian place in Illinois where J.D. and I went on our first date ;) Forgot the name. Otherwise, I like Panera, Trattoria Uliveto (in Santa Maria) and the Thai Hut (cutest little old asian lady works there).
Items of clothing: Shoes (especially cute boots), dresses, and cozy sweaters.
Animal: Kitties-big and small :)

Musicians: Phil Wickham, Norah Jones, Jack Johnson, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Coldplay, Alison Krauss, Matt Kearney, Switchfoot, Tenth Avenue North, Brandon Heath, Owl City, The Civil Wars, Mumford & Sons, etc....so many.

Type of Music: classical, celtic, worship, mellow, jazz, swing/big band and some country (since my husband loves it so much...it's starting to rub off)
Songs: "Love Never Fails" by Brendan Heath-the song I walked down the aisle to. "Better Together" by Jack Johnson, "Come Away With Me" by Norah Jones, "Divine Romance" by Phil Wickham, "Fly Me to the Moon", by Frank Sinatra, "Vanilla Twilight" by Owl City, "Simple Love", Alison Krauss, etc. etc.

Movies: Pride & Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility (pretty much anything Jane Austen) Sweet Home Alabama, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Princess Bride, Freedom Writers, Thumbelina (childhood fav), Life is Beautiful, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Casablanca, A Walk to Remember, The Terminal, A White Christmas, Elf...and tons of old classics.

TV Shows: The Office, Downton Abbey, Star Trek (I've only seen the original and Next Gen so far), Lost, Heroes, Merlin, etc.
Actors/Actresses: Audrey Hepburn, Cary Grant, Reese Witherspoon, Hugh Jackman, Leonard Nimoy (Spock!!), Tom Hanks, Will Smith, Hilary Swank, Michael Caine, etc.
Books: The Bible, Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers, Anne of Green Gables series, The Hobbit, The Help, Little Women, and mystery novels.
Games: Scrabble, card games, badminton, bocce ball
Season: Autumn 
Sport: Camping, hiking, outdoorsy stuff (not so much into other sports) :)
Activities/Hobbies: photography, traveling, hiking/exploring, reading, writing, crafting, baking, going for walks with my hubby.
Foreign Accents: Irish and Australian
Memories: Camping trips with my family, Being at the hospital when my youngest brother was born (Luke) and getting to put on his first diaper, working as a camp counselor at Camp kearney for two summers, the first time J.D. told me he loved me, when he proposed, and of course I have to say our wedding day. :)

Have you ever?
Broken a bone? Nope...hope I never do.
Dyed your hair? I've dyed it light brown and different shades of blonde, as well as a red/Strawberry blonde. :)
Been to Disneyland? Disneyworld? Disneyland, two or three times, but last time was in 2001 or 2002??
Screamed during a scary movie? haha. I usually jump more than scream...but I will admit I screamed while watching "The Grudge" a few years ago.
Been to a professional sporting event? Quite a few baseball games (Angels, Dodgers, TX Rangers, Cardinals, Cubs, Rockies)
Ridden in a limo? Once, for a funeral :( I hope to go in one for a happier occasion someday :) 
Fired a gun? A bb gun, and also a rifle and magnum (I shot clay pidgeons and a pumpkin lol)
Gotten a tattoo? Nope...I hate needles :(
Had Braces? For a year and a half, in 6th and 7th grade. fun times.
Taken a dance class? I took jazz and hip hop in 8th grade/freshman year.

Random nonsense.
My bedtime: Usually whenever I fall asleep during a movie haha... typically between 10-11 PM.
Chocolate or vanilla: Usually chocolate :)
Pet peeves: Random socks left where they shouldn't be (ask JD lol), and clutter...probably a few more but those are the big ones.
What brings me joy: Surprise blessings, nature, exciting weather, sunsets, picnics, tea parties, children, genuine hugs, hand-written notes, laughing so hard it hurts, soft kitties, warm drinks on a cold day, long heartfelt talks.
Dislikes: Coffee, mosquitoes, wet socks, hangnails, itchy sweaters, boring weather...and when my feet fall asleep.
Fears: Needles/anything sharp. Being in crowded places. And of course, spiders.
States I've lived in: California, Texas, and Illinois. 
States I've visited: New Mexico, Colorado, Ohio, Michigan, Arizona, and maybe a few more that I'm forgetting :) 
Countries I've been to: Mexico, 3 times. Twice for missions trips, and then the 3rd time for my honeymoon cruise :) 
States I'd like to visit: Alaska, Hawaii, Boston, Maine, Pennsylvania, Alabama, Washington, The Carolinas, Wyoming. 
Which country would you most like to visit?: Ireland :) Though Switzerland, Austria, Australia, New Zealand, Scotland, Italy, Bali, Jamaica, China and India are a few others at the top of my list. 
Any goals you'd like to achieve in the next year? Learn how to drive stick shift, develop my etsy store more, and get a kitty! haha...that last one prob won't happen :(

3 Things You May Be Surprised To Know About Me
1. I have a permanent retainer on my bottom teeth (it's hidden though)
2. I ate a chocolate-covered cricket at my bachelorette party and it tasted like a Crunch Bar.
3. I rapped a song about my brother (John) on stage for a camp skit three summers ago.

5 Things I'd like to do Before I Die
1. Write a book
2. Travel the World
3. Take a Dance Class with my husband
4. Own a ranch/farm
5. Have a daughter :) Sons too...but I really would love at least one daughter.
     
Well, Kudos to you if you read through all of that...I hope you learned something new about me. :) If anyone would like to fill this same survey out and email it to me or post it in a comment, I'd love to see your answers as well!

If I don't post something more before Christmas, then I wish everyone the happiest Christmas and a blessed new year. :)

Ciao for now,
Anna

Take Heart and Bend a Knee.

"....In this world you WILL have trouble. BUT TAKE HEART ! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

This is one of my favorite verses (and most easily remembered) from when I worked as a camp counselor at Camp Kearney, for the summers of 2009 and 2010. It has grown to be a comfort verse for me, whenever I question the cruelty of the world we live in. 

We live in a fallen world. Yes, God sent his only son to die for our sins, but that wasn't the end of sin. Jesus died for ALL sins-past, present and future. Because we live in a world that is plagued with this disease called sin, there will be pain, there will be disappointments, devastations, and death. We are constantly reminded of this, by our own sinful nature, as well as the sinful nature of others. Just turn on the news. J.D. and I don't have t.v. right now, but we keep up to date with headlines by way of Facebook or some other online source. 

Today, while I was checking my Facebook and reading fun posts about how incredible "The Hobbit" was (for those who were lucky enough to go to the midnight premiere) I began seeing startling posts pour in, about news of an elementary school shooting in Connecticut. How awful that we live in such a "free and safe" country and yet we are just as prone to such horrific acts of sin such as school shootings. 

I remember all of the fire and earthquake drills my classmates and I experienced while in my schooling years. One day in high school, an alarm went off which ended up being the real deal-we were having an earthquake! I don't remember how big it was on the Richter Scale, but I do remember feeling that one. It shook us all up a bit, from what I recall. Sometime in my 8th grade year (or maybe freshman year of H.S.) there was another big quake, which I remember quite clearly. I was at one of my friend's homes with a bunch of other girls, making christmas caroling books. We were having a fun time, unsuspecting of what was to come. Not until my friend's Christmas tree started to shake vigorously (after determining that it wasn't her cats haha), did we notice that something wasn't quite right. We ended up finding out from my friend's parents that this was in fact an earthquake, and then they proceeded to guide us to a safe place to wait it out. My brother John was babysitting our two younger brothers, Seth and Luke that day, and was wise enough to rush my brothers outside during the quake. Most startling of all, was that we found out that our mom had been in the grocery store at the time of the quake, and just happened to be looking for some wine for a recipe (Who would want to be in the wine aisle during a quake??) She said that bottles started to fall all around her and break, but she was thankfully not harmed. While in Texas, my family and I witnessed many thunderstorms, an ice storm or two, and even a few tornadoes. These were all frightening times, though I did enjoy the exciting weather aspect ;)  All of these events were only natural disasters, which everyone will experience in some form at some point in their lives-it's one of those inevitable things which we can't control. 

Sin is also inevitable. When we hear about such awful events, like school shootings, we can be certain that sin was involved. These shooters didn't just randomly wake up and decide that they would spend their day destroying lives. This took plotting and planning, with their main motivating factor being sin. Satan may have been whispering in their ear, but it was still men who chose to carry out these sinful acts. We often hear of these shooters ending their lives after they've committed their monstrosity. I wonder if this is because they know that they wouldn't be able to live with their sin, guilt, and shame...especially after ending the short-lived lives of children. I believe I've been given a heart for children, and so whenever I hear stories of children being aborted, abused, or killed I am full of grief. Children are such precious gifts! And After talking to my mom today, I know she feels the same (she works at an elementary school with children around the same age as the ones affected by the shooting). 

All this said, we can still find comfort in knowing that our God is sovereign as well as omniscient (God is all-knowing) and omnipresent (God is everywhere) . He desires for us to fall at our knees and seek his love, protection, and guidance. This is what I believe we are called to do in times of distress, tragedy, and hopelessness. We may be heart-broken, shocked, angered, and disgusted by the tragic events which occur in our society (particularly when they are full-blown, such as a school shooting). We wonder how a human being could commit such an act? We wonder if they are heartless or even if they are possessed? We see these people as low, inhuman, and cruel. God loves these people just as much as he loves the righteous (who also inevitably sin). God views sin as being all the same. I am not saying that we should take shootings lightly or that we should disregard the feelings of those directly involved. 2 Corinthians 1:4 says:

"He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 

1 Corinthians 12:26 also says:

"If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together."

I believe it's important to follow God's command of showing others' comfort in times of turmoil. Though 1 Corinthians 12:26 is mostly referring to members of the body of Christ, I feel this is a good picture for us to reflect upon when we are dealing with all people. We are called to set an example of Christ's love, and teach his good word, are we not? So, when we see that others are afflicted, we should tell them how we "take heart" and trust in the Lord for comfort when we are downcast. In addition, we can share that our God has conquered the world-he is bigger than all evil. If others see that we have a God we can depend upon and seek peace from in times of trouble, then we are honoring God. 

I am truly saddened for those affected by the school shooting in Connecticut, and my prayers and thoughts go out to them. I do hope they are able to seek comfort from the only one who can truly take away their pain.

Remember, that the best action in these hard times is to take heart and bend a knee.

Blessings,
Anna