Day 27: What is Your Vocation (Why are You Here on Earth?)

There's not much to write with this one. My purpose is to glorify God, just like everybody else. He didn't place us here on earth for no reason. Jesus DIED for me, so it is my duty to LIVE for Him and spread His good news. I'm supposed to be a blessing to others as much as I possibly can and make the most of each and every day. Do I always do this? No. I'm still human and I make mistakes. But that doesn't take away the fact that that's why I'm here. My plans won't even compare to His, so my purpose is to always follow Him.

What else is there to say? I know what I'm here for and I know what I'm supposed to do. But He loves me so much that He lets ME decide whether or not I'm going to do what He tells me. Is there a consequence if I don't? Yes, I believe there is. But I do love Him enough to try my hardest to do whatever He is calling me to do, no matter who is against it or for it.

Day 26: How do you Handle/Deal with Both Success and Failure?

Like any other individual, I handle success better than failure most of the time. I try to handle success with humility, but it doesn't always happen that way. I don't become boastful or anything but sometimes I forget to give credit where credit is due. Often times I forget to glorify the Lord in ALL that I do, this is something I have constantly had to ask God to help me with. There's nothing wrong with giving myself a pat on the back and being proud of myself, but God created me and I am His image - I am not my own. Success builds up my confidence and makes me feel like I really am good for something. I handle it the best way I know how.

Failure on the other hand... I tend to come down hard on myself, probably harder than necessary most of the time. I guess I have high expectations of myself and when I don't meet up to such expectations, I become very disappointed in myself. Failure definitely humbles me, which is good. But eight out of ten times I forget that God forgives me, and I can't move on until I realize that. What I'm trying to say is that I could definitely use His help in handling both success and failure. :)

Day 25: Discuss Something You Planned that Ended Up Not Being What You Expected

Most things that I plan don't turn out as I expect them to. Sometimes it's a good thing, other times it's a bad thing. But nine out of ten times, I try not to expect and to just go with the flow. The one thing I can come up with is when we moved back in 2003. Something personal happened in our family that forced us to move practically within a couple of weeks. Nobody told me where we were moving to, but I assumed it was going to be better than where we were living. When we pulled up to the apartment complex we were going to be moving into, I was very skeptical. It didn't look nice nor classy, but rather very old and not very taken care of. But I thought to myself, the outside of it might not look the best, but maybe the inside of it looks awesome.

When it came time to move, I was kind of excited. It wasn't too far away from where we were living before, and the people/neighbors seemed nice enough. Once we walked through the door of our new apartment room, I was devastated. Not only was it 3 times smaller than our last apartment, but it only had two bedrooms. I remember instantly feeling very disappointed and almost angry. I thought my family deserved better than that, but I also knew that if this was all we could afford, I had to deal with it. I also thought it was only going to be a temporary thing until we could find someplace better, but we ended up staying there for four years. I think I would have been happier if I would have just let go of my anger and moved on. I know it sounds weird, but even still to this day, I feel the need to... "forgive" the apartment building, per say. Every time we drive by it, I get this sudden feeling of bitterness and sadness. I have forgiven my parents before the Lord just in case I might have been angry with them, but I don't think I was. I was just angry with the situation.

This was definitely a situation where what I had planned didn't end up being what I expected. But, after four years of living there, something else happened that I didn't expect - we moved! Into a house! With four bedrooms! (I never like to sign off of my posts with negative thoughts, hehe.)

Day 24: Discuss a Spontaneous Moment in Your Life That Turned out to be Fantastic

I feel like these moments don't happen very often in my life, but maybe I'm wrong. I can remember one that may seem extremely petty and insignificant, but I will never forget it.

I was about 11 or 12 years old. We lived in an apartment complex that consisted of people of all ages and various races. It wasn't my favorite place to live, but somehow we made it work. One day I was hanging out with one of my friends outside, when all of the sudden I saw an elderly woman walking slowly down the steps that lead to an entrance that was closest to her home. She was struggling to unlock the door and would consistently glance over at me in a very humble manner, but never said anything. I decided to go over and see if I could help. It was a struggle for me too at first, the key kept somehow getting stuck and wouldn't turn. Finally after about three times, I got it to unlock and was able to open the door for her. Her whole face lit up as she softly said, "You are an angel, and don't let anyone tell you differently." It was the most incredible feeling, and still makes me smile every time I think about it. From that day on, every time we passed by each other, she always recognized me and smiled. I really regret not saying good-bye to her before we moved into our current home. I often wonder if she is still alive, as she was quite up there in years when we were living there.

Again, it seems very petty, but it had a huge impact on my life. Any time I'm feeling discouraged, asking God what He could possibly use me for or what is so special about me, I think back to that moment and I can still hear her voice just the way it sounded, and I tell myself, you're an angel and don't let anyone tell you differently - not even yourself.

Day 23: Describe a Truly Spiritual Moment in Your Life

I've had a lot of these, but one that comes to mind is a Christian concert/family festival I went to last year with my mom and a couple of friends. We went a few months ago to the same one but it wasn't nearly as powerful as the one we went to last year. It was an outdoor event, which made it even more fun (to me, anyways.) I felt the spirit of the Lord the minute we walked through the main entrance. All I could see was jumpers/trampolines and bungee cords, but it was the people that were there that made His presence obvious. I felt so young again as I suddenly heard a little voice in my head-- "...you know you want to." Needless to say, my friend and I ran over to one of the inflatable jumpers. The one we went on was called "King of the Hill", and the goal was to get to the top of the jumper, or "hill". It was harder than it sounds.

After we were done embracing our inner youth, we all decided to head over to the stage where the bands were performing. These particular bands weren't very "well-known", but we rocked it out anyways. Some of the bands we were unfamiliar with were "Chasen", "Revive", and "The Museum". They were awesome though. What was really cool was the fact that we got to stand right up front!
Did I forget to mention that it started to rain? It rained off and on all throughout the day, but that didn't stop anyone from having a good time and praising the Lord in song.

After Chasen, Revive, and The Museum, GO Fish performed. Considering their music is mostly for kids, I didn't think I would care for them that much, but they definitely proved me wrong! I've NEVER had so much fun singing "The B-I-B-L-E" before!! They had the whole crowd - kids AND adults - jamming to "This is my Father's World", "Sweet Song of Salvation", and "I'm a Soldier in the Army of the Lord."

Then, our worship leader performed. It was pretty awesome seeing him up on a huge stage compared to our little church stage :)

Next up was one of my favorites - Britt Nicole. She was amazing! The spirit of the Lord was definitely on her the whole time she was singing, even in her "uppity" songs. She always had such a powerful message/testimony to share in between each song, which I think is important. She reminded me a lot of the kind of girl I want to be: on fire for the Lord, smiling and having fun on the stage while glorifying God.

Then Matthew West entered the stage. My friend and I SCREAMED because we both loved (and still love) his music. One of my all time favorites is "Next Thing You Know" which I was SO happy that he performed. The song we were most excited about was "The Motions" (it was popular on the Christian radio station.) The spirit of God was apparent in him also, with every song and every word. Although I think the main reason I shed a couple of tears while watching him perform was the fact that he looked a lot like Karl, and it made me wish he was there with me.

It got even better - Kutless was up next. By this time, it was getting dark, so the stage lights came on, which was SO cool. We definitely rocked it out once they started performing "Strong Tower" and "Hearts of the Innocent." They closed their performance with "What Faith Can Do", which was also popular on the radio, and a very powerful song.

Of course, the best was saved for last. Two words: THIRD DAY. They were incredible! My favorites to sing along to were "Sing a Song for Jesus" and "I've Always Loved You." The last song they sang (before two or three encores) was "Revelation", which was VERY moving for me. At some point during that song, my mom grabbed my hand - while it was in the air. We both held our hands up in praise to God until the song was over. When they walked off the stage, everyone started to shout, "ONE MORE SONG!" repeatedly until they entered the stage again. Nonetheless, they ended up playing about three more songs, then I think everyone decided it was getting late and it was time to go home. My legs were practically numb by the time it was over due to jumping and dancing - so much so that it took me about five minutes to walk downstairs the next morning.

It was nothing short of a spiritual moment. Not just the performances, but the people. While each band was setting up their equipment/instruments, everyone around us was talking and sharing their testimonies to people they had never met before. It was the neatest thing seeing everybody getting along and sharing stories like they had known each other their whole lives. That is the love of Christ right there.

You can see more pictures from the even here.

Day 22: Describe a Dark or Turbulent Moment in Your Life

I've not ever really experienced a moment that would be considered dark or turbulent. If there was, I wouldn't necessarily feel comfortable sharing it publicly. I'm very blessed to say that God's hand of protection has been on my family from the beginning and He hasn't let anything horrible happen to me. The hardest time I ever went through was when Karl and I broke up, but it wasn't "turbulent". I felt alone and broken, and the only truly "dark" moment I had was when I was cutting myself. All I did was carve a heart into my leg with a thumbtack, but I traced it on a daily basis until I made myself bleed, and even a little bit after I bled. It scared me the more and more I did it, and I think I had just enough self-respect to stop doing it. After I read in the Bible about how our bodies are God's temple, that made me feel even more contrite. I consider this a dark moment figuratively and literally. The whole time I was cutting myself, I remember I had this song playing the whole time, repeatedly. It's sung by a Christian artist, "Plumb", who has kind of an Evanescence feel to her music. The song is called "Cut." I also had the lights out in my room the whole time, (hence the term "dark.")

I'm forever thankful that God delivered me from what could have been a horrible habit. The scar is still there, but I'm never sad when I look at it. Instead of being reminded of where I was and what I was going through, I'm reminded of what God saved me from and where I am today. Self-harm does not ease the pain, it rather increases it and eventually converts to self-destruction. When you realize who you are in Christ, how much He loves you and what He did for you, it changes your entire perspective on life and yourself. I remember thinking to myself, He already took a beating for me - why would I want to cause Him MORE pain?

Day 21: Write About Your Best Friend (Not Your Significant Other) and What Makes Them Special

Why'd you have to limit me like that? ;)

I guess then I will tell you about my best friend from middle school. We became friends towards the end of 6th grade. I felt so comfortable around her, like I didn't have to pretend to be cool, she just accepted me for who I was. I remember we always had a blast together in Study Hall - our teacher Mr. Harmon was probably the best teacher in 6th grade, so we always had a fun time in his Study Hall class. He would let us bring our mp3 players, snacks, books, etc., so of course Tori and I took advantage of that. I remember one time Tori was showing me her new earrings (they were clip-ons), and we told Mr. Harmon he should try them on. So he did!Why he put them on one ear - I don't know. But it was hilarious!

Tori and I shared our best memories in middle school - whether it was at school or at her house. We weren't exactly the most mature pair, but we had fun nonetheless. We rarely ever had disagreements or fights, but thankfully we did believe in the same thing when it came to God. We talked about Him a lot and even sometimes prayed together over Instant Message. We watched Passion of the Christ together, and we had our good friend Katherine join us. I remember the actor who played Satan in the movie scared us so much, that we turned on all the lights in the house and didn't go anywhere by ourselves. I also remember the first time I told Tori about Christ's second coming. She was scared and I think she even cried, until I explained to her that as long as we believe in Him as our Lord and Savior, we were going to go up to Heaven with Him.

We did the craziest things together. We played ping-pong while we were lying down, named inanimate objects (including a dead cricket in her basement - his name was Jimmy), took pictures until 2:00 in the morning, and even made our own music videos. There was also a time when we watched Titanic together... at our own houses. We made it so that the movie played at exactly the same time so we could literally watch it together. We would laugh and talk about certain parts of the movie, when all of the sudden towards the middle of the movie, I tried to tell her something and she wouldn't respond. Yeah, she fell asleep. At first I was irritated because no matter how loud I yelled, she wouldn't wake up. Then I thought it was kind of funny.

But what made our friendship special was that we were always there for each other. We always tried our hardest to understand each other and whatever it was we were going through. She was and still is very special to me. What made her special was how caring she was. I remember one time in particular when my parents had gotten into a huge argument, and it was a school night. My mom was working night shifts at the time, and I didn't want to be home with my dad because he was still so angry. I called Tori as she was about to go to bed, and she told me I could come and sleep over at her house. When I got to her house, she just held me for a little while, along with her uncle (I knew him pretty well because her and her mom lived with him.) The next morning, I was able to ride the bus with her to school. It meant the world to me, and it still makes me smile when I think about it.

Our memories and fun (and funny) times are too many to write down, but they are unforgettable. Though we've drifted over the years due to me being home-schooled and various changes in each others lives, we are still able to pick up where we left off and bond the way we did in middle school. That's what I love about our friendship. She still means the world to me and nobody could be a better friend to me than her. In fact, I plan on having her be a part of my wedding, because she is still a very significant and special person in my life.

Day 20: Discuss Your Favorite Movie and Why it's so Special to You

My favorite movie would have to be Titanic. It's "special" to me because it's educational and intriguing to me at the same. I've learned more about the story of Titanic through watching the movie than I have doing research. I'm not typically a big fan of history, but the movie made it interesting for me.

I also enjoy the romance that takes place between Jack and Rose. It makes the story more realistic - like there was so much more going on than just the tragedy of Titanic hitting an ice berg and then sinking. Jack reminds me a lot of Karl - he's not an artist nor is he poor, but he's caring and gentle like Jack. He also cares for me and wants the best for me as Jack cares for Rose and wants the best for her. The two of them just want to be together no matter what, even while the ship was sinking. The part that reminds me of Karl and I the most is when Jack is falsely accused of stealing Rose's diamond, and is sent to the bottom of the ship in hand-cuffs. Rose sought to rescue him, even though it meant going all the way down to E-Deck, which was already flooded with ice-cold water. She found Jack cuffed to some sort of pipe, and once she realized the key to the cuffs was nowhere to be found, she ran frantically to find help. When nobody would even listen to her, she found and grabbed a hatchet, then sprinted back to the room that Jack was in. She cut through the cuffs with the hatchet, and her and Jack made their way back to the top level of the ship. I know in my heart that I would do whatever it would take to rescue Karl, even if it meant risking my own life.

The mystery aspect of the movie is great, too. When I first watched the movie, it was fun putting the pieces together as to where the "heart of the ocean" was, and how it actually ended up in the ocean. And of course, the mystery as to why Rose's record wasn't valid. All in all, it is a great movie. It has a little bit of everything - action, drama, romance, comedy, and most importantly, historical truth.

Day 19: Something That Shook Your Belief System to its Core (A Big Disappointment in Your Life)

If you're asking me if a big disappointment in my life led to a shaking in my belief system, then I can't come up with anything. I've learned to not believe that I can trust everyone, and that ultimately the only person I can trust fully is God. I guess to some degree I believed I could trust those I was close to, but eventually those beliefs changed as they let me down at some point. They never failed me, but they let me down or disappointed me, therefore I learned I cannot put my entire trust in anyone otherwise it'll raise my expectations for that person, which will lead to them hurting me or disappointing me in some way.

I believe I always stood on the promises of God ever since I was a little girl. A lot of things happened in my life that would fall under the category of "big disappointments" but somehow, I always knew He was there and that He was going to make everything okay. My parents struggled a lot in their marriage but I never anticipated nor feared it was going to end in divorce. Nothing pulled me away from knowing God was going to bring us through anything life threw at us.

I don't believe either that something shook my belief system in a disappointing way. When I started reading the Bible, I was open to the truth and wanted to know the truth. I was never disappointed in what I read or learned. If anything, the only thing I would have been disappointed about was the fact that I couldn't comprehend everything I was reading - that I was still so young in my faith and understanding that certain things in the Bible didn't make sense to me. But that changed over time. My belief system has always been this: Everything happens for a reason, God loves His children, God will bring His children through anything, and He will always provide for His children. And He has never disappointed me.

Day 18: Someone You Met Randomly That Made an Impact on Your Life

The only person I can come up with is someone I met a couple weeks ago at a friends' baptism. Her name escapes me, but my mom knows her from Target (my mom works at Target.) My mom was unaware that she attended our church, but since she does attend our church, she was also at the baptism as her son was being baptized. After the ceremony, my mom decided to greet her and congratulate her and her son. My mom was worried that she wasn't going to recognize her because they'd only seen each other a couple of times, but the second she saw my mom, she recognized her right away and even gave her a hug. She was obviously pretty emotional having witnessed her youngest son getting baptized, and she just had the biggest smile on her face. She was happy as happy gets and kept explaining to us how thankful she was and how much she loved the Lord, it was the coolest thing. She even shared with us how the devil had been attacking her and her family for the past two years, but then she followed that up with knowing that Jesus had already won the battle and that everything was going to be okay. It was incredible seeing the Lord radiating from the inside out of this woman. How humble and gentle she was yet truthful and bold.

Eventually she looked over at me and asked my mom if I was her daughter. I introduced myself and she just looked at me with the most loving look. Then she asked if she could hug me. "Of course," I replied. She then started describing how we are all a family in Christ and how excited she was to meet up with her "family" in heaven. As she was talking, she would occasionally look to the sky and raise her hand in thanks to God. Her joy was contagious, as was her smile. This impacted my life because it made me realize how much I have to be thankful for, and that we need to always "give thanks in ALL circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:18). It also made me realize that I really do have a family outside of my blood family - I have a family in Christ that I look forward to meeting one day. It uplifts me beyond words knowing I have brothers and sisters and we all share the same Father. I wish all Christians could take hold of this truth.

Day 17: Someone With Whom You Shared a Friendship/Relationship That Simply Drifted out of Your Life

The only person/people I can come up with are these twin boys who lived down the hall from me (we were living in an apartment complex at the time.) Their names were Robert and David. We went to school together and hung out practically every day. From 1st grade to about 3rd grade they were considered my "best friends," even though I had a bunch of other friends that I hung out with on a weekly basis.

When we moved out of the apartment complex, we were still relatively close and our parents made sure to set up "play-dates." But since I was going to a different school, I made new friends and saw them more often than the twins. They still came over for birthday parties and such, but as the years went on, we drifted further and further apart. My family moved a lot, and it seemed that each time we moved, it was even more far away from them than we were before. My elementary years were my "tomboy years," so the older I grew, the more I started hanging out with girls, because any time I tried to innocently hang out with boys, I was made fun of and given the old, "Katrina and so and so sitting in a tree." By the time I was in middle-school, the twins' dad had re-married, so they had a whole different life, and I wasn't apart of it. I haven't seen them since probably 4th or 5th grade. It was a great friendship while it lasted, but we've grown and matured and have become different people, so I'm perfectly okay with not having them in my life anymore. Some friends aren't meant to stay in our lives forever.

Day 16: A Book You’ve Read That Changed Your Views on Something

I would have to say "The Shack" by William P. Young. It's an incredible book and it changed my views on multiple things. The most important thing it taught me is that forgiveness is a HUGE priority for a Christ follower - no matter what the circumstance. In this book, Mack's (the main character) little daughter is kidnapped and then murdered in a shack, which he finds a few years after her death took place. But when he found "the shack," God encountered him and told him the only way he was going to heal from his daughter's death was if he forgave her killer. Obviously, he didn't take to it very well at first, but he did eventually come to forgive the murderer. This book made me realize how very important it is to forgive others no matter what they've done or the extent of hurt they've caused you. Even though it's difficult to forgive sometimes, it does free you, and I believe it's the only way to free you from whatever happened to you. God explained to Mack that his little girl was in a much better place and doesn't even remember what had happened to her, and He even gave Mack a glimpse of how happy his daughter was to be in Heaven.

This book also gave me a different perspective on something a little less important. In the book, Mack's wife refers to God as "Papa," which Mack has a hard time grasping. I thought it was strange at first too, but then I thought about how important it is that we realize God really IS our Father, and whatever it takes for us to realize that - by all means do so. I don't refer to Him as Papa or Daddy but now when I pray, I take the time to call Him my Father, and worship Him as not only my Savior, but as my Father. The cool thing is, by the end of the book, Mack was also referring to God as Papa ;) Goodness, just writing about this gives me the chills! Maybe I need to read it again, ha! I do recommend this book to everyone, even non-Christians. It could actually give anyone a whole new perspective of who God really is, and how much He really loves us.

Day 15: A Band/Musical Artist Whose Music Impacted Your Life

Of course, the very first person that comes to mind is Amy Grant. When Karl and I broke up back in 2008, I was devastated. I felt so alone, like nobody could possibly understand what I was going through. I heard her song "Missing You" from her album Behind the Eyes and I sang it to myself almost every day--

Your smile lights up a room like a candle in the dark
It warms me through and through
I guess that I had dreamed we would never be apart
But that dream did not come true
Missing you is just a part of livin'
Missing you feels like a way of life
I'm living out the life that I've been given
But baby, I still wish you were mine
I cannot hear the telephone jangle on the wall
And not feel a hopeful thrill
I cannot help but smile at any news of you at all
And I guess I always will
Missing you is just a part of livin'
Missing you feels like a way of life
I'm living out the life that I've been given
But baby, I still wish you were mine.

I almost called Karl up to sing this song to him, but I was always too afraid. This song helped me to grieve, but it wasn't this song that actually helped me heal or made me feel better. I stumbled upon her song "The Prodigal" from her album Unguarded - immediately, I started to weep. By this time, Karl's mom and I were e-mailing each other back and forth, she was a big help in my time of need. The song made me think of how her and Karl's dad must have felt while their son was living with someone who was a horrible influence on him and following the ways of the world. I sent his mom the lyrics to "The Prodigal" to which she replied in tears, saying that was exactly how she felt--

I face the day again against the window pane
I remain your closest friend - I wish you back again
You wonder how I feel
You think you've pushed too far
If only you could see this pen scribbling down my heart.
(Chorus)
I'll be waiting,
I may be young or old and gray
Counting the days
But I'll be waiting,
And when I finally see you come, I'll run when I see you
I will meet you
(End Chorus)
But still the days drag on
Why did you decide to go?
Did you only need to see
What only time can show?
(Chorus)
And even if you never do return
Still I will have learned how to love you better
(Chorus 2x)

Wow, just writing the lyrics down gives me goosebumps and brings tears to my eyes all over again. I listened to this song over and over for days, until he finally did return home, and back to me. This song gave me hope, and even though I'm not his parent, his waywardness gave me a deeper love for him. When I would hear Amy Grant sing these songs, it felt like she was singing them directly to me/for me, and that helped more than the song itself I think. These songs ministered to me and helped me, but the ultimate reason why I got through our separation was because of God - He sent certain songs AND Karl's mom to comfort me in my turmoil. He is so good :)

Day 14: Someone Who Has Made Your Life Worth Living

This one is easy. First of all, Jesus Christ makes my life worth living everyday. He died for me, why not live for Him? The fact that His mercy is made new every single day is enough to get me out of bed in the morning. He offers unconditional love, inexplicable grace, and everlasting life - of course He is the number one reason why I live!

Furthermore, He has given me the most amazing man in the world, whom I didn't and still don't deserve. He literally is the man of my dreams and words can't describe how excited I am to marry him. Every day he is worth living for, and worth waiting for. It all goes back to God because Karl is a gift from Him - winning his heart was not my doing. Just hearing his sweet little voice at the end of a hard day makes that day worth pursuing. I thank God every day for bringing him into my life, because I never in a million years thought that I would get someone as special as him. Someone who loves me for a who I am, genuinely cares for me, and most importantly relies on HIS love to love me the way he's supposed to. Like I said, it all goes back to the Lord, because without Him I wouldn't have Karl, therefore God makes my life worth living for more than anyone else ever could.

Day 13: Discuss Some of the Things on Your Bucket List

Wow... my bucket list? To be honest, I haven't really thought about that one. Although ever

since getting a boat this last year, I've wanted to try water-skiing. Let's see what else I can come up with:

Learn to play the piano and/or guitar - it's one thing to have the gift of singing, but I feel it would improve my song-writing skills if I could PLAY a melody instead of hum it. Besides, I love the way both of these instruments sound, they're so much more... "natural."

Go horseback riding - I'm not much of an adrenaline junkie, so this is as portentous as it gets. I've ridden ponies and carousel horses, but I want to know what it's like to ride on a real, live HORSE while it's RUNNING!

Record a song with a famous Christian artist - I know that seems a little "out there", but I can't even tell you how awesome that would be. Nerve-racking, yes, but awesome. Somebody like Amy Grant, Brandon Heath, Fernando Ortega, Mandisa...

Walk on water - okay, this one might seem a little more preposterous. Yes, I would like to try this. Hey, Peter did it! In my Bible it states, "With God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26.) I'm also taking Karl with me ;)

Minister to a third-world country - of course, I want to minister to those in my own country. But I would like to experience what it's like for people with hardly any food or shelter, and show them a life that's worth living for in Jesus Christ. To lead worship for the little ones and see their zeal/longing for the Lord. Maybe even build some sort of church...

See the Titanic - duh, how could I forget about this one? Ever since seeing James Cameron's "Titanic," the subject of the "unsinkable ship" fascinates me. I would LOVE to literally climb into a submarine and dive 2 miles under the Atlantic ocean to see the ship inside and out. At the very least, I'd like to visit a museum based on the Titanic, see some of the items that were found inside of it, or speak with someone who is related to a Titanic survivor.

See the 9/11 Memorial - 9/11 took place when I was still a little girl, so at the time I didn't quite understand what had happened, all I knew was that it was very bad and whoever was responsible for it was very bad. But now that I'm older and have seen footage and pictures that were taken at the scene, I understand a whole lot more. I think it would be incredible to be able to step foot where those buildings once were.

Go to Israel - just thinking about this one gives me the chills. Seeing where Jesus walked, where He was crucified, where He was buried. I would love to walk down the Via Dolorosa and sail the Sea of Galilee. I'd be an emotional wreck but it would be one of the best experiences of my life to see Biblical history unfold before my very eyes.

Day 12: Something You Never Get Compliments On

Hmmm... The only thing I can come up with at the moment is my scrap-booking. I'm still a beginner and I've never really shown anyone my work, therefore I don't receive compliments on it.

I don't mean to be boastful in saying that I can't come up with anything that I don't get compliments on, it's just difficult because Karl compliments practically anything and everything about me. The things I don't get complimented on are the things that others may not know about - like some of my poetry. It wasn't until recently that I received a compliment regarding my photography, otherwise compliments are very seldom in that aspect. Which is okay, because to me photography is only a hobby. I won't judge whether or not it should be considered a 'talent.'

While writing this particular blog, I've realized how blessed I am to be able to say that there aren't many things that I don't get compliments on. I guess God has been working on me more diligently than I thought!

Day 11: Something about which people seem to compliment you.

I get a lot of compliments on my outward and inward appearance, but nobody is more surprised than me that this is true. Compliments humble me and make me realize how much God has done in my life. I cannot take credit for any of the compliments I receive, because God is my Creator and I wouldn't be who I am without Him.

When it comes to my outward appearance, the compliment I get most often is on my blue eyes and dark eyelashes. One time when I was in middle school, I had been late, so my mom had to sign me in. As she was signing the paper, I noticed the lady at the front desk kept staring at me. We finally made eye contact, and she said, "I'm sorry, you just have the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen." Needless to say, that made my day, despite being late. I also had a teacher tell me that I had the most beautiful smile she'd ever seen. That was a compliment I wasn't used to! Otherwise, people usually say something like, "You're so pretty" or, "You're so cute." Other times they'll go up to one of my parents and say, "Your daughter is so beautiful." Then of course Karl (my fiancee) who compliments me multiple times a day, will tell me how beautiful I am, how sweet I am, how amazing I am, and how blessed he is to have me. There are many more things he compliments me on but I wouldn't be able to even list them all. His compliments are the best :-}

I also get a lot of compliments in regards to my talents - my drawings, my songs, my writings, and my voice. Again, those are all God's doing, not mine. But I enjoy the compliments because the minute I hear them, I get to look up to the sky, and just smile.

Some other usual compliments consist of: My intelligence, wisdom, kindness, humility, a heart for the Lord, and my sensitive Spirit. One of my favorite compliments is, "You're beautiful on the inside and out." That tells me that God's light in me is so apparent that it even shows on the outside. If you ask me, that's pretty awesome. :)

Day 10: Something at which you've been a champion or the best.

I've always been good at drawing. As early as kindergarten, I was known as "the artist." In fact, while I was still in kindergarten, I won an "award" for one of my drawings. What did I draw? Of course, being the kind of kid I was, I drew the first thing that came to mind, which was an event that had taken place a few days prior to drawing this picture. I drew my neighbor's dog chasing my cat up a tree. Nobody was more surprised than me that I got recognized for that drawing. But I get a chuckle out of it even to this day.

The odd thing is, I knew I was good at drawing, but I never wanted to make it a career. Everyone always told me I should "be an artist one day" but I didn't want to. I wanted to sing, I wanted to be recognized for my musical abilities instead. So I joined choir classes in

middle school and even tried out for some solo parts. I had been writing songs since 6th grade. I still used art as a way to express myself, but I didn't show it off. In 8th grade, my friend and I signed up for an after school program called Music Technology. We had the opportunity to actually record music, which is something I had always wanted to do. I recorded a song that I had written for my current fiancee, and it was the coolest experience. I showed the teacher (who was also my band teacher) and he said it was one of the best songs that had been recorded in the class.

I still write songs and plan to use them in ministry as soon as next year. I've learned to let God give me the inspiration because He's the one that gave me the talent. I do however still draw often and I actually entered one of my drawings into the Carver County Fair this year and won first place in Pencil Sketching. That felt pretty amazing, but God ultimately gets the ribbon because I wouldn't be able to do it without Him.

Day 9: Getting Baptized (Vacation Hiatus)

I need to start catching up on these ;)

Well, I suppose I could tell you about a life changing experience that took place a couple months ago. I got baptized with my Dad at Lake Minnetonka in Excelsior :) I've wanted to do it for a while but was too afraid to take that leap of faith. When I heard our pastor announce that the church was going to be having a baptism service, I felt like God was nudging me... as if He was saying, "Now is the time." My dad had mentioned prior to the announcement that he thought it would be a good idea for him and I to get baptized together, so, we did.

Now, our family has been going through a lot in the past couple of months, so my dad was in kind of a weird funk up until the baptism. He was what our pastor would call a "Joyless Christian" due to all the stress and chaos that was taking place at home. God's timing is so perfect :)

So we went to our normal 5:00pm Church service on Sunday (June 26th), and the baptism was to take place after the sermon. We headed to the baseball field at Lake Minnetonka around 6:00pm, I felt like my heart was going to beat out of my chest! My dad and I got our name tags and joined the group we were assigned to. 6:30pm - it's time to share our testimonies with our group. At this time, our family and friends gathered around us to hear how we grew up, how and when we came to faith in Jesus Christ, and why we decided to become baptized. I shared my testimony after my dad did, here's what I said:

"My name is Katrina, Doug's daughter (pointing to my dad). Ever since I was a little girl, I had a zeal for God, but I didn't know what it meant to have a relationship with Him. When I was about 11 years old, my mom introduced the Left Behind book series to me, and I discovered through reading those books that if Christ had returned the next day, I wouldn't have been ready. That night I accepted Him as my Lord and Savior. I didn't start living out my Christian life until I was 14, which is when God gave to me my current fiancee. God used him to give me a deeper knowledge of the Bible and Jesus' love for me. All glory goes to God for where I am at today, I would be nowhere without Him. A verse that continues to speak to me is Galatians 2:21 which says, 'If righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing.' I thank Him every day that I don't have to earn His grace, but that I am saved through His finished work on the cross. So today, I am choosing to commit myself to follow Jesus Christ through baptism. I know it will be one of the best decisions I will ever make."

After everyone was finished sharing their testimonies, we headed to the lake. The water was FREEZING but we all agreed-- getting baptized was worth freezing our toes off. There were about 7 to 8 groups, so we did one person at a time from each group, taking turns so that all could celebrate each baptism individually. In our group, there was the cutest couple who had gotten baptized together - it was probably one of the most touching moments I'd ever seen. After they came back up from the water, the husband kissed his wife so passionately that it brought me to tears.

It felt as if my heart stopped beating when Pastor Dave motioned for Dad and I to go over by him. I heard God whisper again, "Now is the time." (In my opinion, it was more than coincidental that Pastor Dave was the one that baptized us, considering he has helped our family before in various ways.) My dad and I held each others hands, the Pastor put his hands on us, recited a little speech over us, then we went under. When we came back up, I immediately felt different - joyful, hopeful, peaceful. At that point, the temperature of the water was far from my concern.

We all waited until everyone was baptized before getting out of the water. When that time came, a family friend of ours, Lisa, approached me with a necklace - a gold necklace with a butterfly pendant that had my birthstone on it, (both of our birthdays are in November.) I could tell she was quite moved by the whole event, as she went on to tell me her grandmother gave her the necklace when she was baptized.

"Are you sure?!" I asked in amazement.

"Yes," she replied, as she proceeded to put it around my neck.

Crying, I went to greet my family, which was my mom, my little brother and sister, my older sister and her mom, and my nieces and nephew. It truly was an incredible experience, and I'm so happy that God led my dad and I to do it.

Day 8: Good Friday (Vacation Hiatus)

This day never ceases to amaze me. But this year, it amazed me in good and bad ways. Over 2000 years ago, my sins were paid for on an old rugged cross, and my Savior took a beating beyond comprehension so I could have eternal life. I watched the movie "The Passion of the Christ" twice this week, and it was nothing short of overwhelming. I had seen the movie before, but it had been a while. The way I watch this movie differs tremendously from the way I watch other movies - to think that Jesus actually DID go through that and it WAS worse than what the movie could ever try to portray... that's incredible to me. Every time I watch it, I'm stumped on how to react, but my initial reaction consists of tears and the ongoing thought of "I sooo do not deserve what He did for me." I find myself just staring at the TV screen trying to wrap my head around everything that's going on in the film. Trying to get my attention during this movie is nearly impossible. The tears typically don't start flowing until the angry crowd is demanding to crucify Jesus and let the murderer go. I just don't understand how heartless they could have been to accuse an innocent man and sentence him to death for.. what? Being perfect? As whimpy and whiney as it may sound, throughout the entire movie all I seem to be thinking about is how bad I feel for Jesus. I can easily empathize with others, so I can only imagine what was going through His mind while the romans were constantly hitting Him, spitting on Him, and whipping Him. He remained humble and silent, and when He did speak, it was with love.


I can never bear to watch the scene where Jesus is being whipped and beaten by the soldiers. I hate the sight of blood, but I especially hate watching an innocent man practically bathing in His own blood. In other words, I have to turn my head during that scene. I've noticed that every time I watch the movie, I start crying the most while Jesus is carrying His cross and He falls, and then His mother is having a flash-back - it shows Jesus as a child falling, and Mary running to help Him up and hold Him in her arms. She then snaps out of her flashback and runs to Jesus to help Him up, and He continues to carry His cross. After that, the tears start to slow down, and they don't start increasing again until the soldiers are nailing Him to the cross - I have to turn my head during that scene, also. The tears continue as the theif to His left tells Him to remember him in Paradise - that part always gives me chills.


Then the best part of the movie finally arrives - He is Risen!!


As I was saying, this year, Good Friday has amazed me in good and bad ways. The "bad amazement" mainly came from the fact that Earth Day fell on the same day as Good Friday, so guess what? The TV stations are ranting and raving on how to save the environment and plant trees and prevent man-made global warming, which doesn't even exist. All I've been hearing about today is what America can do to save the world from blowing up. When are people going to start waking up? We're so worried about the status of the environment when we aren't even the creators of it, while in the meantime, souls/lives are at stake and people are going to hell. There are more important things than the environment. I understand God sending us down here to take care of His creation but we don't need to freak out and go into a panic thinking the world is going to explode or burn to ashes. Humans' lives/souls are more important to God than the trees and the grass and the air and even the animals. Today is the day He paid for our sins, but instead we'd rather celebrate the earth? At the very least, lets celebrate the Creator of the earth and what He did for us. It just makes me spiritually angry and it makes me wonder how God must be feeling. I care about the environment in a way that isn't extreme - I don't litter and it makes me mad when I see trash on the side of the road. It's just about keeping my priorities straight - going out of my way in attempt to "save the earth" which I will NEVER be able to do, is not on the top of my priority list. I believe leading people to the Lord is more important than trying to do something that is out of my control, HE will save the world.


In conclusion, I stand amazed.. in a good way, because He loves us so much to give His own life for us. Let us celebrate this day in rememberence of His sacrifice and His infinite love for us :)

Day 7: Happy Anniversary, Baby (Vacation Hiatus)

Aprill 11th, Karl and I celebrated 3 years of being together. It's been a long, hard journey - but we have the rest of our lives to look forward to with each other. Last year, we got to spend our anniversary together face to face, but we were so excited to be near each other that we didn't really acknowledge the fact that it was our anniversary. So this year, it was a bitter-sweet celebration, because although it marks 3 years of being together, it also marks one year since I've seen him.

Anywho, a week prior to our anniversary, Karl made it sound like he wouldn't be able to get me a gift this year for our special day. Part of me was crushed, another part of me thought, "well, it's not that big of a deal." Then he said instead, he would sing to me all of the songs he's ever dedicated to me. I was totally okay with that and thought it was the sweetest thing. The day of our anniversary arrived.. he called me early in the morning and was being really sweet and lovey-dovey until he had to get started with his day. I was sad all day because I missed him so much and wondered when I would ever get to see him again. It was 2:00pm, my mom had to go to work, my dad was already at work, and my brother and sister were at a friend's house. I felt lonely so I turned on the radio and tried to enjoy the time I had to myself. All of the sudden, I hear a knock on the front door. Now, I had been taught since I was a little girl not to answer the door for strangers, so I almost ignored it. Then I thought maybe my brother or sister was locked out and wanted to come inside. I open the door and this gentlemen from the local floral shop was holding a beautifully wrapped package of some sort. I thought to myself, "Maybe he has the wrong address"... until he asked me if my name was Katrina. I confirmed that I was she and then he said he had a special delivery for me. The only words out of my mouth thereafter were "Oh my goodness"... I went inside and examined the package. There was a note on the front of it that read: "Katrina - the best three years of my life!" I started crying tears of joy - and the tears increased as I opened the package. Inside was the cutest stuffed animal - a soft and absolutely adorable little lamb. I dug further and found a large box of Abdallah's chocolates. I couldn't believe it! He actually did get me something! I called him and told him he was such a little stinker for making me think he wasn't getting me anything, and then told him how thankful I was for the wonderful gift. You see, every other time he has gotten me a gift, whether it was for my birthday, Christmas, whatever - he always ends up telling me what it is, and I tell him everytime that I like being surprised. Well, I was definitely surprised this time!! So all we had to say at the end of the day was, "I love you," and, "Happy Anniversary, baby." Isn't he cuuuuute??!

Day 6: Something that excites you and fills you with joy

I get excited over the littlest things sometimes. I have a lot to look forward to this year. Something that excites me everyday is when I get to talk to Karl after I'm done babysitting my brother and sister. I get excited when my mom and dad come home from work, I get excited when it's time to go to church, I get excited when we make spontaneous trips to the store or to a friend's house. I even get excited when I log onto Facebook and see that I have notifications or friend requests.

I also find joy in the thought of God fulfilling all that He has promised to me. It excites me to know that I have a calling to ministry through singing and writing music, which is one of my passions in life. It simply excites me to know that He loves me and He will forgive me no matter what I do, and that I have eternal life waiting for me whenever my time comes.

Although, I try not to let my happiness be defined by my excitement - meaning, there is a difference between excitement and true joy/happiness. Excitement is usually temporary, whereas joy is eternal and lasting no matter what the circumstance - if you choose to live that way. I get excited easily, but my goal is to be happy and thankful wherever I happen to be.

Day 5: Something in life that gives you balance

Wow... that's deep. Well, all in all, Jesus gives me balance, and all He has to offer gives me balance. When I'm angry or upset, He gives me joy. When I'm burdened, He gives me peace. When I'm weak, He gives me strength. When I'm happy, He keeps me humble. He is my everything and I'd be nowhere without Him. He fills whatever void I may have and gives me what I need when I need it. He is the only thing I can trust with my whole heart because I know He will never let me down. What else can I say? He keeps my heart, spirit, and life in balance, and I wouldn't want it any other way.

Day 4: Something that is part of your routine that you enjoy.

I'd have to go with the obvious, which is talking to Karl every morning and evening. He brings so much joy into my everyday life and despite the distance between us, I'm thankful that I am able to hear his voice every single day. We've been together for nearly three years and I still get butterflies in my tummy every time he calls me :) I especially enjoy having prayer and/or Bible time with him in the morning, it's a great way to start off my day.

Lately, my routine has consisted of spending time outside, savoring the spring-like weather. This I enjoy also, whether I'm riding my bike, playing basketball with my brother and sister, or just sitting on the patio listening to the birds and watching my kitty roll around in the grass. It's my time to rejoice in the day He has made and truly embrace the beauty of His creation.

Another part of my everyday routine that I enjoy is spending time with my mom at the end of the day. This time includes talking about our day and watching one of four things: Dog the Bounty Hunter, The Nanny, Three's Company, or Storage Wars. Along with God's strength and love, it's these simple happenings that get me through each day. :)

Day 3: Something with which you struggle

I guess I struggle with a lot of things. I have a tendency of accomplishing multiple things and doing really well as far as following a schedule and keeping myself disciplined-- then I stop. I'll become lazy again and then find myself procrastinating, which I hate doing. Although I believe that once the temperatures start increasing and the sun shows its face a little more, I will be more apt to get things done.

It may sound strange, but I also struggle with handling struggles. When a trial or tribulation is taking place in my life, my knee-jerk reaction is to question God and throw a temper-tantrum. It'll take me days sometimes to get my act together and realize that God is in control and everything will be okay - I just wish that would be my very first response, without the 4-year-old behavior.

I also have a habit of eating more sweets than I probably should. That's not the struggle. The struggle is stopping. I have a great metabolism so no matter how much I choose to eat, it doesn't seem to affect my weight. But still, I imagine it's not good for me to be taking in as much sugar as I do.. especially when it comes to chocolate. Oh how I love chocolate. But I struggle more with the amount of soda I drink than I do with the amount of sweets I eat. What can I say, I have quite the sweet tooth. ;)

Day 2: Something You Regret Not Having Done Last Year

Around this time last year, I was getting ready for a trip to Myrtle Beach with my mom, Karl, and his parents. The trip was only four days including travel time. Also around this time we were making potential plans for us and Karl's family to take a trip to Arkansas because I wanted my grandma to meet her future grandson-in-law. When we arrived in Myrtle Beach, I was so excited to be physically near Karl again; to feel his warm hugs and sweet kisses that I had long been waiting for. But I regret not appreciating or taking advantage of the short time I had with him. My thought process was, "well, I'm going to get to see him again in Arkansas in a few months." The trip went by quicker than I thought, so when it came time to saying good-bye, I felt awful. I regret this because not only did it make Karl feel like I didn't want to spend time with him -but the trip to Arkansas never worked out. April 10th will now mark one year since I've seen him.

I also regret not getting my permit and liscence. I know I wouldn't have a car of my own to drive, but at least I would be able to use my mom or dad's vehicle to go where I need to go instead of being picked up and dropped off all the time.

Although I still sometimes think back on these things that I wish I would have done, I've forgiven myself for having not. For me, a life of regrets is a life of misery - I can't move on with my life if I'm still living in the thoughts of "I wish I would have done that." I can't change past mistakes, but I can make sure not to make the same ones in the future. For the Lord said in Isaiah 43:18, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past."

30 Day Writing Challenge - Day 1

http://danacreative.blogspot.com/2011/01/30-day-writing-challenge.html

Day 1: Something to look forward to this year.

At this point - a lot of things. With it now being April, I look forward to Minnesota's weather hormones being in balance. The snow is melting and spring is in the air, or so it seems. Just the thought of warm(er) weather excites me.

I look forward to spening as much time with my family as possible before I get married. I hope to visit my darling grandmother in Arkansas this summer, preferably on Independence Day as we always do. Then we're praying that God will provide a way for us to visit my other grandma in Tennessee. I look forward to being baptized with my dad this year, as it will be my very first baptism. I've been asking the Lord to restore my relationship with my dad, and He's been giving me a lot of great ideas for activities him and I can do together to make that come to pass.

Last but not least, I look forward to marrying the love of my life. Three years of saving ourselves for each other and living 1,200 miles away from each other means extreme anticipation and excitement for this day to arrive. I look forward to starting a life of my own, taking my music to a whole new level, and sharing the gospel through the music God has given me. I simply look forward to stepping out of the old life and entering into the new. Not to say that I'm jumping for joy because I'll be leaving my family, but I foresee new beginnings coming about in this marriage God has ordained.

All in all, I look forward to seeing what God has planned for me this year. :)

I Wish Someone Would have Told Me...

http://www.creativewritingprompts.com/
This prompt that I chose was kind of tricky... I probably would have been able to write more if the prompt was, "I wish I would have listened when they told me.." but, I was able to come up with a few things.

Prompt #134: Begin with "I wish someone would have told me..."

• I wish someone would have told me that God was going to put me to the test from time to time. Maybe then I would have been more prepared for those tests.
• I wish someone would have told me that sooner or later my brother and sister were going to grow up and be different than they were when they were little. Maybe then I wouldn't have been so shocked at who they became.
• I wish someone would have told me not to be too trustworthy toward everyone. Maybe then I wouldn't have gotten hurt as much.
• I wish someone would have told me that even close friends don't always stay in your life. Maybe then I wouldn't have relied on them so much.
• I wish someone would have told me NOT to keep my iPod in my back pocket. Maybe then it wouldn't have fell in the toilet.
• I wish someone would have told that that cup had medal on it before I put it in the microwave. Maybe then I wouldn't have set the microwave on fire.
• I wish someone would have told me that saving money is difficult when you have coupons. Maybe then I'd have more money.
• I wish someone would have told me that middle-school was going to suck. Maybe then I wouldn't have cut school so much.
• I wish someone would have told me that I was the temple of God before I decided to cut myself. Maybe then I wouldn't have this scar on my leg.

See what you can come up with! :)

How to Get Along with an Enemy

www.creativewritingprompts.com
Prompt #129: Write a light-hearted piece on how to get along with an enemy.

To get along with an enemy, first and foremost, you need love. Not the kind of love that society represents, but the kind of love Jesus had and still has for those who reject Him. Matthew 5:44 "But I tell you: Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you." Not only are we supposed to love our neighbors, but we're also supposed to love those who have wronged us. And not only are we supposed to love them, but we are to pray for them as well.

Moreover, forgiveness is required to get along with an enemy. Holding grudges toward one another only intensifies the strong feelings of hatred between the two of you. Think hard about whatever happened that lead you two to become "enemies." Is it worth dwelling over? According to Jesus, nothing is worth holding unforgiveness toward someone. He says in Mark 11:25, "And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."

In addition to loving and forgiving your enemy, acts of kindness will help. Proverbs 25:21-22 says, "If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you." There is no reward for treating your enemy poorly. Even if your enemy doesn't do any of these things in return, that just means YOU are the bigger and better person. Not in a boastful way, but in a way that is pleasing to God.

Creative Writing Prompts

So there's this website that I "stumbled upon" (literally... www.stumbleupon.com) and it has really sparked my creativity. I love to write but I don't always know what to write about... that's what this website is for. www.creativewritingprompts.com gives you ideas as to what to write about. I've found it quite interesting, and fun. There are over 200 prompts to choose from - check it out and see what you think! I will be posting one of the prompts I chose shortly...