dressember: round two

"Dressember is a collaborative movement leveraging fashion and creativity to restore dignity to all women. 

Dressember uses fashion to advocate for women who've been exploited for their femininity. As women take on the creative challenge of wearing a dress for the 31 days of December, they are advocating for the inherent dignity of all women. 

Dressember exists to inspire and empower a global community of like-minded women who are locking arms to face one of the greatest injustices of our time.

The heart of Dressember is freedom-- that every woman has the right to live a vibrant and autonomous life."

I'm participating in Dressember because I believe in everyday advocacy. I know my voice matters, and that I can help change the world that millions of abused women and girls wake up to every morning. Join me in the fight for the restoration of dignity for all women!

Help me meet my goal and create real change. Every dollar counts, and the process is fast, easy, and secure. 

You can also partner with me by sharing this page on Facebook and Twitter. Or, send an email to friends you think might be interested in contributing and include a link to my page!

Thank you for locking arms with me in the fight for dignity.

prone to wander.

laughing.

Forever and always laughing my head off at the way my life seems to go.
I am NOT going to Moody.
I am not going to Chicago.
I am going to Bucks.
I am going to be a nurse.
I WILL graduate with honors.
I will prove everyone that I can do this.
But mostly, I will prove it to myself.

life lately

well, it's official. i am the WORST blogger out there.

BUT, today, i got a new laptop so maybe that'll give me some incentive to blog on a more regular basis. i go on these blogging kicks and i get post happy for like a day. whooooops.

anyways, some updates:

I will be officially starting at Moody Bible Institute in the fall! I am PUMPED. I am majoring in pre-counseling which is like social work and I'll also be getting a small concentration in Ministry to Victims of Sexual Exploitation. I hope to someday to move to the Middle East and be a missionary to Muslim people.

I've been working at Calvary this summer, cleaning and what-not. It's actually been really great. I am working with one of my best friends, Gabbi. BUT she's on a road trip for the next few weeks. ugh. 

This week I had my wisdom teeth out so I've been out of commission for the past 2 days. I'm in a lot of pain, but it could be worse. It has been kind of nice to have some time off of work to sit and watch Netflix, hah.

In about a week and a half I am leaving for 2 weeks to go to counsel at Mt. Gilead for 2 weeks so that will be so fun. I am really excited about it. The camp got a new director is so nice and I can really tell that she loves the Lord and is definitely in it to serve. 

So that's pretty much what's going on in my life lately. Nothing too exciting but still pretty busy. 

back, back again

WELP. I had written a post at the beginning of May *gulp*
that I never posted! It was my fault though because it wasn't totally finished. BUT, it contained a bit of wild information, if I do say so myself.

I am not going to Bible College in California anymore.
And I bet by this point in time a bunch of you already know or have heard that.
At this point, the why and the details are just sort of water under the bridge.

I am certainly looking forward to what the Lord has in store for this next season of life.
Yesterday was my very last day of high school EVER.
Tomorrow is my last shift at Ann's Choice.
Graduation is next Saturday.
Senior Trip is next week.
I am starting a new job soon.
and currently. as we speak.
my application to Moody Bible Institute is under review!!!
I am PUMPED. I want to go there so bad.
If I get in, I will double major in Pre-Counseling and Ministry to Victims of Sexual Exploitation and take both degrees to the Middle East.

God's got a plan. I am not quite sure what it is, but I can't wait to see what he has in store for me.

#givehope4iraq

https://vimeo.com/123451877

When you get a few minutes, take a look at this video.
Forward it to your friends, family, and colleagues.
One of the biggest issues with what's going on in the Middle East is the lack of attention and ignorance to the severity of the situation. Hope for Iraq is a faith-based organization determined to help the displaced people in northern Iraq who have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict. There are currently thousands of refugees and women who have been victims of sexual slavery who are in dire need of humanitarian aid. Hope for Iraq seeks to provide that aid for these women and children using food, shelter, and education. If you have any questions feel free to ask! Check out givehope4iraq.org. You can also find their Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages with the same name.

Be an advocate for the voiceless. Be heard.

#givehope4iraq #victorious #gh4i

doubting thomas

Many of you know my plans for the future:

Go to California in the fall

Transfer to the campus in Vajta, Hungary after a semester or so

Become a missionary to Muslim people

Recently I have been doubting these plans so much,

And it hasn't been for any real reason. 

I mean, I've been getting really really sad when I think about how I am not going to college to be an English teacher / writer / editor. 

Me and my selfishness have been like "Am I going to hate serving other people for the rest of my life? Probably." 

How stupid is that?! Especially since I'm headed right into God's will. 

But ANYWAY, the women's seminar yesterday and today completely blessed me. 

All of the speakers 100% reassured me that I am going to love where I am headed in this next season. 

I have been praying and praying that I wouldn't lose my fire and that my heart for Muslim people wouldn't die out. Today, when Heather Mercer put up the pictures of the women in chains because of ISIS, I was longing to help set them free. And those aren't the only women in danger! Many women are sold into slavery and sex trafficking. If you've kept up with my blog so far, you know I participated in Dressember, and I wore a dress everyday for a month to raise awareness for sex trafficking. 

All of this to say...

The Lord is faithful. 

Like honestly so faithful. In all of my humanness and daily failings, he never lets me down!

He knows every doubt and worry that my heart has ever seen and ever will see. 

I have never been more loved than by my Heavenly Father. 

What a wonderful feeling it is to be cherished by the one who holds my life and has numbered my days. 

I am honored to know Jesus. I am honored that he knows my name and has written my story. I am honored to do his will. 

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. 

Psalm 119

{1,500+ women, hands raised, praising the most high God}

the world can't see jesus if we don't look like jesus.

midnight musings.

it's very late, or rather early.
and here i sit
pondering about a boy,
hoping that he is pondering about me.
how silly i feel,
knowing he doesn't feel the same.

new favorite pin

my new favorite post-type

reading: Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy

trying: to write a 1,000 word paper for physics!!!!!!!!!!!!

playing: softball. for the first time. hahaha

eating: my home-made mac n' cheese. ugh, so gooood.

feeling: complacent. with school & with jesus. (sad face)

striving: to be a servant & to not dwell on my feelings.

wearing: skinny sweats.

drinking: apple juice, but lately i've fallen in love with earl grey tea.

planning: for the summer. coatesville, moose factory, working...always busy.

excited for: spring breaaaakk! i'm going away with my family, lauren, and mackenzie.

avoiding: certain friends for stupid reasons. #ihatedrama

realizing: thursday's are definitely blogging days. i'm going to try and blog at least once a week.

hah.

i just think it's ridiculous every time i find myself crying over a boy because boys are not worth crying over.
end of story.

snow day musings.

Had to read this for my online lit class. Wasn't the best short story I've read, but it wasn't the worst either.

"A singular disadvantage of the sea lies in the fact that after successfully surmounting one wave you discover that there is another behind it just as important and just as nervously anxious to do something effective in the way of swamping boats."
Stephen Crane in The Open Boat

caught.

caught between who i am and who i want to be.
i want to love jesus more.
i want more of him everyday.

i want to make a difference;
can you see jesus in me?
do i emulate him?
please, tell me when i don't.

caught between seasons.
seasons of life and literal seasons of weather.
i want it to be summer -- free at last.
but when summer comes,
so will adulthood.
quite frankly:
ain't nobody got time for that.

at the same time,

i think i'm ready.

ready to move on and grow up

and be who i want to be

and head across the country

to seek jesus

and find him.

such a weird place to be in right now.

not quite sure what to do

or what to say

or where to go.

ready to leave

but

i refuse to leave before i have left my mark and made a difference

caught in this place that feels like limbo

but there's so much left to do

and so much kid left inside.

don't make me let go of her,

just let me go.

falling for jesus.

#FallingPlates
click here

For all those who have lost a loved one

and for Keith Scott. 

updates.

someday, i hope to get better at being a more consistent blogger, but today is not that day.

planning: i am settled on going to California next year! i am going to Calvary Chapel Bible College in Murietta. however, i won't be staying there forever because someday, i'm going to transfer to the campus in Vajta, Hungary. the program in Hungary is accredited and has more of a focus on missions, which i believe is the calling god has placed on my life.

wanting: more jesus everyday.

enjoying: 1. the time i have left of senior year 2. this snow day

loving: some girls in jr. high & watching them grow & love jesus

needing: to do some major homework (whoops)

wishing: as much as i love days off, it is too cold! summer, please.

watching: one tree hill .........

wearing: sweatpants and my shooting shirt

talking to: sara & schylo, my go-to gals

avoiding: cleaning & responsibilities

appreciating: the fact that i got to go on the jr, high retreat & the lord met & blessed us so abundantly

feeling: excited & ready for change

opportunity.

We spend our whole lives waiting for something 

bigger

or better

than what we already have. 

We plan, research, and worry about the future and what it holds. But what if every

opportunity

you ever needed or wanted was right in front of you

Now

And the only thing you had to do to get it was

Take it. 

Stop wasting time dreaming and wishing about the future you want. 

Go and get it. 

Who cares if you're young? That just means you get more time to work hard and enjoy the fruits of your labors. 

Who cares of you're old? You've got more wisdom to start with then. 

If you don't like something about yourself, 

change it.

If you want something more out of life,

go find it. 

And if you can't seem to find it anywhere,

ask around. Someone knows where it is. 

senior retreat.

the Lord will bless you over and more abundantly than you can ever imagine
you need only ask
i am thankful for the opportunity i had this past weekend to go to calvary's new prayer house, on the senior retreat.

it was seriously such a blessing.

it wasn't your typical retreat.

there was no altar call,

no super emotional time

nothing extra spiritual, so to speak.

but everyone there loved jesus.

like really loved him

and wanted to learn

and grow

and change

the theme was god's will.

and boy, does he have a will. 

we know from the bible that he has a plan for all of our lives, and there is good in store for those who love him. but i don't think that we always believe it. and we can't always find it. or find him, for that matter.

so,

pursue godliness.

"all the sin of my nature, and all the sins of my life - all that i am, and all i have ever done, was imputed to him. he represented me and was treated accordingly...god and sin met at the cross and sin was judged & abolished." - mackintosh

but above all,

we are not creating ourselves

rather,

we are discovering who god wants us to be.

and that is the most important thing.

Only a Little While

After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. (1 Peter 5:10)

Sometimes in the midst of the afflictions and ordinary stresses of daily life, we may cry out, “How long, O Lord? I can’t see beyond today’s pain. What will tomorrow bring? Will you be there for that affliction too?”

This question is utterly urgent, because Jesus said, “The one who endures to the end will be saved” (Mark 13:13). We tremble at the thought of being among “those who shrink back and are destroyed” (Hebrews 10:39). We are not playing games. Suffering is a horrible threat to faith in God’s future grace.

Therefore it is a wonderful thing to hear Peter promise the afflicted and weary Christians, “After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you” (1 Peter 5:10).

The assurance that he will not delay beyond what we can endure and that he will abolish the flaws we bemoan and that he will establish forever what has tottered so long — that assurance comes from “all grace.”

God is not the God of some grace — like bygone grace. He is the God of “all grace” — including the infinite, inexhaustible stores of future grace.

Faith in that grace is the key to enduring on the narrow and hard way that leads to life.

From Future Grace, page 68.   

don't put all your eggs in one basket.

love should ravish your

m

i

n

d

more intimately than

it ravishes your

body. 

overdue.

well, the new year is here and I am long overdue for a post.

Dressember is over and I didn't meet my goal. However, the campaign as a whole raised over 440,000$ which is enough money to warrant over 70 rescue missions. We are still taking donations until the end of January and hope to meet 500,000$. Wearing a dress everyday for a whole month was really hard actually. I'm glad that I could be a part of something bigger than myself and step out of my comfort zone a little bit. 

Also I'd like to take this opportunity to list some goals I have for 2015. I don't want to call them New Years resolutions because we all know no one ever sticks to them. So they'll just be goals and you can keep me accountable to reach them.  

1. Graduate high school 

2. Read the Bible more 

3. Pray more

4. Be a better friend

5. Work toward being healthy (not skinny!)

6. Work hard in everything I do 

7. Read more 

I think that each new year brings a fresh start. It's a time for people to erase the past and look toward what's coming. This is the first year that I'm not looking back with regret or sighing in relief. 2014 was actually pretty good and I'm super excited to see what 2015 has in store. There's going to be some pretty big milestones coming my way.