Ribet Ribet

This past summer I had the privilege of nannying for a sweet family, the Presley's. I had a truly awesome job - hanging out with kids! Sydney and Avery are the two children of the Presley family and we spent many a days experimenting in the kitchen. I let the girls take it away usually and I just enjoyed getting to watch and supply needed ingredients. There were many interesting results and good laughs.
One rainy day, we had the idea of making "froggy cupcakes" as they were called. After a failed attempt at finding a picture on the Internet we could copy, we improvised. It was certainly a fun project to try. A picture of Syd & Aves' rendition of the "froggy cupcake" is at the top of the blog. If you ever find yourself babysitting, nannying, bored, or looking for rainy-day ideas with your own kids, I would definitely recommend trying this : )

Just Think...

Just Think,
you're here not by chance,
but by God's choosing.
His hand formed you
and made you
the person you are.
He compares you to no one else --
you are one of a kind.
You lack nothing
that His grace can't give you.
He has allowed you to be here
at this time in history
to fulfill His special purpose
for this generation.

Sometimes it is necessary and comforting to simply be reminded that God has a purpose for you each and every day. Many people, definitely myself included, loose sight of how revolutionary this Biblical truth is. THE God of the Universe has a plan for you and I; that is certainly nothing to be overlooked.

Whenever you are in need of encouragement, as I was today, remind yourself of the fact that your Heavenly father has it all under control!

A More Beautiful You

Since I ramble about my various passions so often, I decided to share another with you : )

I love music, (attempting) to play music, writing music, seeing live performances...you name it! This past summer I came across a new recording artist, Jonny Diaz. He is a very talented singer and an outstanding Christian guy. I fell in love with his song 'A More Beautiful You' and the positive message that it put out there for women of all ages to combat the typically negative message that is distributed through various sources. I then began to read a little about his background and his story caught my attention. He dropped his career and college scholarship to play baseball all in faith. His music career began shortly after this decision and has caught like wildfire. I posted the music video of my favorite song of his at the end of the blog for you to check out. If you'd like to know more here is the link to his website: http://www.jonnydiaz.com/ 

TOMS

I am all for a great cause, a passionate person, a vision, a movement. I have come across so many inspiring causes and such over the years that I have fallen in love with. Obviously, I can't get involved with each one, but I can try and do my part, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem. One movement I stumbled across last year was TOMS SHOES. This was a cause that I researched after hearing about and truly developed a passion for. I have kept up with the movement and I'm simply amazed at the success that it has seen since its beginning. I have been searching for some ways to really get involved with TOMS SHOES and thought I would share some information with you just in case you might be interested as well. The video below explains the cause entirely, how it began, etc. etc. The link to the website at the bottom of this post can answer questions, show you how to get involved, or even allow you to purchase your own set of TOMS SHOES.

This movement is based off of the idea of "one for one." One pair of shoes will be given for every pair that is bought. It is simple, but effective. TOMS SHOES will be donating 300,000 pairs of shoes just this year to needy children all around the world. From my international experiences in Guatemala, Israel, and other countries, causes such as this are so real and beautiful to me. Hopefully I can share with you my journey as I seek to support the movement behind TOMS SHOES.

Website: http://www.tomsshoes.com/default.asp

Aspiring Coffee Lover

1. I would love to live anywhere new, not that I don't love NC or would not stay here, I'm just not opposed to change of that nature. 
2. I don't mind public speaking, on most occasions. 
3. I often throw in random Spanish words in conversation and I have found that it annoys many people. 
4. I have never been stung by a bee or wasp. 
5. I had one of those "I am going to die right here" moments when I was in elementary school: my sister locked me in our 'dress up chest' and went downstairs to play. Lack of oxygen? - yes! 
6. I type speedy fast because I spend way too much time on the computer. 
7. I am allergic to sulfur based drugs - just in case you were wondering. 
8. I think the concept of 'pancakes in a can' is hysterical. 
9. I cried when I was younger upon realizing that I was the only person in my mom's side of the family with green eyes, or any other color than brown for that matter. 
10. I don't like to use the telephone - texting, talking, etc. 
11. I think the Jonas Brothers are overrated. 
12. I am bound and determined to make myself like coffee. 
13. I love to garden and I greatly admire my aunt who oversees a garden at a beautiful estate in Charleston. 
14. I once caught a fish with my bare hands and a 'Propel' water bottle. 
15. After running the mile in 5 minutes and 44 seconds, I begged my mom to call an ambulance (out of all sincerity). 
16. I was once lost in Guatemala for 3 hours, at night, with one other teenage girl - Miss Brittany Brooks. Truly an experience I do not wish to relive. 
17. On my trip to Guatemala the next year, my wallet was stolen at the same location Brittany and I went MIA at. 
18. I would go bungee-jumping or skydiving in a split second, but not alone. 
19. The day the movie 'Dear John' comes out will be better than Christmas, my Birthday, and Tax Free Weekend combined, in my book at least : )
20. I once won a free year of Chick-Fil-A at a Knight's Baseball game. That day was certainly a highlight of my life.

Life As A Missions Trip

My school, Hickory Grove Baptist Christian School, recently implemented an idea that was birthed during 2009. The vision of multiple members of administration at my school was to fill a week full of missions. The idea was targeted at educating the high school students on what missions truly means, the various ways it can be done, how each of us can find our calling, and more. The majority of the senior class headed off to the Dominican Republic for their senior trip at 1:30 a.m. on Monday morning, which left the rest of the high school to embark on the first annual Missions Week.

I must say that being as in love and passionate with missions as I am, I was thrilled at the idea. Not only was my love of missions the root of my excitement, but my curiosity was as well. I know that my idea of 'missions' is very specific and naive, if I was honest with myself. I'm realizing that missions is not simply a cross-cultural submersion for long periods of time. Life is missions, if it is lived as God has desired for it to be. He gave each and every one of us the Great Commission to be lived out everyday of our lives, not just the 2 weeks I may dedicate each year to traveling overseas on a short-term missions trip. I'm also realizing that if He cannot trust us to perform our call here, in our own city, how can He trust us to reach the world? I ask myself this question just as much as I do anyone else. 

My youth pastor, Bobby Price, always challenges the members of Kingsway Baptist to "live life as a missions trip, and live it well." I don't succeed at that everyday, but my prayer is that as I embark on my journey through this new decade that I will fulfill that premise to a higher degree. 

Today, I would like to challenge you and myself with this: let us fulfill the Great Commission with each new sunrise. We have been called, let us answer. We are not promised tomorrow, but we have today. 

Matthew 28:18-20

"Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

'Solo' Cups

1. My right foot is about a half a size larger than my left.
2. I took about 15 minutes of a ballroom dancing class with my Aunt one summer.
3. My favorite scent is vanilla: vanilla candles, soap, body spray...Vanilla everything!
4. I love surprises!
5. I hate throwing parties for myself but love doing them for other people.
6. The movie Super Size Me actually made me crave McDonald's fries...haha.
7. I am a perfectionist, but I'm working on it.
8. Redecorating my room has almost become a hobby of mine.
9. It would be a dream come true to intern for a major author one summer.
10. I have always wanted to go camping, but my family relentlessly denies my request to venture into the great outdoors for a weekend.
11. My initials spell the word JEW.
12. The Melting Pot is revolutionary in my book.

13. The phrase "just drink it off" annoys me more and more every time I hear it. May I just say, not only will your problems still be there when you regain sobriety, you will then too have a headache. (so I hear, I don't know from experience)
14. I love random and useless information. For instance, did you know that you blink approximately 84 million times in one year OR that every single citizen of Kentucky is required by law to take a bath at least once a year?
15. I have only had one cavity and I still say "it was not my fault."
16. I had a horrid experience while para sailing one summer after I didn't have my harness properly put on...scary? YES!
17. I consider myself a southerner, yet I hate sweet tea
18. One of my favorite toys as a toddler were red 'Solo' cups. I was easily amused.
19. I use to try and alter the results of my eye examinations because I wanted glasses so badly.
20. I was named after the character 'Jordan' in the movie Cocktail starring Tom Cruise. 

And this concludes yet another series of '20 Random Facts'