May Challenge - Day 4

Favorite quote (from a person, from a book, etc.) and why you love it.

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself..." Matthew 6:34

I spent a large amount of my younger years worrying.
Part of it, I think, is genetic, but most of it, I know, is a choice.

Growing up with a single-mom was great fun - but it also caused me to be anxious.
What if something happened to my mom?
What would I do without her? How would I go on?
I used to worry myself sick, literally.

The earliest memories I have of this were probably when I was two or three and I would scream, cry, kick, vomit, anything, just to make her stay home from an event. (And being the super-hero single mom that she was, she didn't go out or leave me home often.)

I had a very vivid and morbid imagination and all I could do was worry about her.

Then, one day, I don't know when exactly, I realized that worrying is pointless.
Of course, these thoughts and feelings would still bubble up, but once I was aware of them, I tried to put them in the back of my mind or just distract myself. This worked, to an extent.

Then, when I gave my life to Christ a little over four years ago I found out what it really meant to be at peace. As I mentioned a couple days ago, I have always had faith, but it was then that I really knew that God had a plan and whatever was supposed to be, would be.

This verse is such a great reminder to me that God is in control and my worrying isn't going to do anything, so why bother? Instead I now spend my time and energy being productive and focusing on the things that are I can control like the choices I make and the way I treat people.

What's your favorite?
-N

May Challenge - Day 3

Things that make you uncomfortable

Being Cold

And I'm cold all the time. 

Unless it's 75 degrees, sunny, and I'm outdoors.

When parents are clearly being abusive to their children

I do not like/know how to deal with parents yelling and speaking meanly/abusively to their children.
I understand sometimes you need to lay down the law, but try and be discrete and please don't make me worry about their well-being. I have a big heart for children and I just do not understand why some people don't treat them as humans...

Spider Webs
They look beautiful when they are contained in a bush...

 but when I walk through little strands of them, YUCK! 
Even after I remove it I still feel like there's a phantom web attached to me... I get the chills just thinking about it!

This is such an interesting prompt because there are so many ways to feel uncomfortable and so many different things that make each of us uncomfortable! I'm looking forward to see what everyone else has to say...
-N

May Challenge - Day 2

Educate us on something you know a lot about or are good at. 

Hm. This one is tough. 

At first I was trying to think of things that I could do really well, but I'm not particularly great at any one thing. Then, I thought about writing a kind of a joke-post about how good I am at things like eating for example. (Step 1: Acquire food. Step 2: Open mount, insert food... you get it.) But I wanted something more than that. Something deeper.

After a bit more thinking, I have decided to share with you something that I both know a bit about and that I am good at - trusting God.

Ever since I was young I have always had a strong sense of faith. Of course I was influenced by my wonderful mom and her strong faith in the Lord, but even when I was very little and may not have totally understood everything what was going on, I knew it was all alright and it was how it was supposed to be. 

We struggled a bit, my mom and I, but we always had faith and God always provided. 

And He always does.

He knows just what you need and when you need it.
He pushes you and stretches you and twists you, but when you have faith, He never breaks you.

I know that I am cared for and loved by a great and powerful God and I am good at having faith in that. I am good at knowing that I don't know much and I may not excel at much but I am who I am and I am designed by God and for God.

My hope is that you'll know that too. 

-N

May Challenge - Day 1

I am so excited to join Jenni for the Blog Every Day in May Challenge.

I have been looking for some new inspiration lately, and I know this is going to be a fun and thoughtful way to get inspired to share more with y'all.
 

Today is the first challenge and although it's a bit late - better late than never, right?

The story of your life in 250 words or less 

I was born an only child to a super-hero single mother on Long Island, New York. We laughed a lot, moved a lot, loved a lot, fought and cried (just a bit), dreamed a lot, ate and cooked a lot, sang a lot, and prayed a lot.  Then during my first year of high school we settled down into a home with her caring and generous boyfriend (who is the closest thing I have to a dad.) A few years passed, I didn’t get into any of my dream schools and I ended up going to Arcadia University because they gave me some great scholarships (and they have a castle). Within the first few days I met the man I would marry, within the first year I gave my life to Christ and was freed from sin and death, and I had no idea what I wanted to “do” with my life. (But God does.) Fast forward just a bit, I married my wonderful, caring, loving, goofy, intelligent, handsome husband the summer going into our junior year of college. (I was 19, he was 20). Fast-forward a couple more years, we both graduate (I, with a degree in teaching – He, with a degree in Math) and we move to Pittsburgh so he can pursue his dream of getting a PhD. in I.E. and I can support him and try to find a job teaching. We are head over heels in love; grateful for the many blessings we have received, and excited to see what God has in store!

(Okay, so it’s 258 words… but who’s counting? Also, can anyone tell theirs in "less"?? If so, how? Teach me your ways!)
-N

Join the fun!

And don't forget to follow me via bloglovin' 

The Voice

I was never a fan of singing shows until The Voice premiered four seasons ago.
I instantly fell in love with the idea, the coaches, the talent, and was hooked.

I watched the most recent episode, though, and couldn't help but think that beyond the seasons, I don't know or hear anything about any of the winners. 

I saw Javier win the first season, skipped the middle two due to lack of cable/tons of school work/lack of interest in staring at Christina Aguilera boobs, but now that I'm back into it (thanks, Hulu!) I am a bit broken up about the fact that I most likely won't hear much from the winner, whoever he or she may be.

(Usher thinks that's funny)

Now, I understand not everyone can break through and become a super star (many American Idol winners fall short). However, with the amount of talent these people are packing and the advice/connections they have gotten from the coaches (which are all awesome - and there's so much less boob!) How haven't any of the past three gone on to do great things?! Or any of the other contestants for that matter??

All this got me thinking about why such great "voices" don't make it in "the biz" and I realized it's because most stars are so much more than just a voice.

 They are also artists and personalities.

I do think the coaches are taking this more into account in season four, but I also think that the contestants should have to showcase their artistic abilities and perform original songs in the live shows. This way we could see their multitude of abilities (that ultimately) will make or break their success and we'd get to really pick who and what we want to hear more of.

Now I'm clearly not a superstar, or a gifted vocalist, but I am an advocate for things that are great and things that I love. So, I hope that someone important sees this and takes it into account. Or that the winners would at least go on to make and sell some music - because I think they're awesome and I would love to hear some talent on my radio. 

Anyone else want to add their two cents?
-N