April Wrap Up

WARNING.... LOTS OF RANDOMNESS COMING YOUR WAY 
(proceed at your own risk)

Snow. basically all April did this month was snow. *burst into sobs*

• listened to a TONNNNN of Frank Sinatra...... aka danced wildly around my room. *cough*

• Went to Albany with my homeschool group for Legislative day. Got to pass out bills to Assembly men and Senators. XD Toured the Capitol & went to a musueam. Guyssss my feet were LITERALLY dead. But still cool experience all around.

• My record player broke. srly saddest day of my life
• so I've been writing this 'short' story for you all BUT it is getting to be wayyy longer than i first thought. Currently im at 11,254 words BUT hopefully I can have it finished by the end of May. XD (Or sooner, depending in how much time this procrastinator sets aside for scribbling) 
• Also Guys. WHAT THE HECK! WHEN CALLS THE HEART. no words ..  HOW CAN JACK BE DEAD?!?!?!? (I was honestly in shock for 2 days) 

• I got a espresso maker and basically been drinking lattes ALL day long. its amazing.  
• it was like 60 the other day. so warm! people were like "WOW WHAT A BEAUTIFUL DAY" #LIFEINNEWYORK

POSTS OF THE MONTH

MY Anthem

 Random Thoughts About Instagram

The Power of Life and Death

LIFE LATELY

FAVE BLOG POSTS

DARE TO BE HAPPY AGAIN -the barefoot gal

THINGS I'VE FOUND TO BE TRUE -sharla beth photography

Built to last...Whimsical Writings for His Glory

THE BOOKS READ

ALL THINGS NEW

 BY LYNN AUSTIN 

Description 

fiction/historical/christian 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It's the end of the Civil War, and Josephine, her now widowed Mother, Eugenia, and her sister return to their plantation in Virginia. But life is different now. Many of the women are now widowed. But the biggest change in the South is that the slaves who made life on the plantation so easy were now "free"....but where would they go & how could they survive without no education or experience outside the direction of their Master? Lizzie and her husband Otis decided to stay & serve Eugenia's family but Eugenia had to learn a different set of rules. This book is a good history lesson of life right after the War and the attitude changes that had to take place in order for there to be Reconstruction.

This is my second time reading this book. I have so much love for Lynn Austin. Her books are very historically accurate and depict the time period quite well! its always a pleasure to read one of her books. XD soooo if your looking for a book to buy........


FAVE THING ABOUT APRIL + HAS IT BEEN COLD OR WARM WHERE YOU LIVE. 

Happiest times are spent with a book in hand

Life Lately

             

Life kind of has a way of sneaking up and catching me my surprise. Lately I’ve felt like that a lot. My life seems so different now than three months ago. It’s hard. When changes come except them and find the joy even when you feel like curling up into a little ball and sobbing your eyes out.

It amazes me that whenever I feel left out or when I am going through a hard time in my life that God ALWAYS bring someone/something into my life to bless me & give me courage that life will not always be hard. what I am facing right now is only for a moment. 

One of my friends resently told me that “change is a terrible thing when your life is wonderful but it’s also hope when we are going through a tough time.”

As I thought about that I realized how true that really is. I am humbled how much God does care and desire that we live a abundant life. Recently  I have been feeling discouraged. So much change has happed to me in the last year & im kinda of just realizing how much that affected me. For instance one of my best friends moved away *sobs*  and for a while I was like “wow I really don’t have that many close friends” . That was hard cause I am a little social bug. Haha I LOVE hanging out with my friends exc.. and then it was like all my friends were gone....

                                    

                                                  (me be like...Weeping in the rain)



and I was like.. whoa what just happened & for a while it was really hard (some days it still is) but I realized that while I may not have a TON of friends where I live I have family a days drive away that are always up for a last minuet adventure or a fun weekend. And some that live farrrrr away, I get little random messages from them and honestly that makes my day. I realized the other day how many people God has placed in my life!!! And I’m just like wow. Even when I feel alone I’m not. I believe that God has placed the people you need in your live. Sometimes it just takes a bit for us to notice who that person is.

So allllll of that rambling to say that GOD WILL PROVIDE & so many times when we look back it’s like WOW God thank you for that valley I walked through because I now see what you were doing (and even if we don’t know why) we can still rest in the promise that we are never alone ;) I think that’s pretty fantastic.

___________

Words to the song Not for a Moment by Meredith Andrews comes to mind.

After all You are constant

After all You are only good

After all You are sovereign

Not for a moment will You forsake me

THOUGHTS? CAN YOU RELATE TO WHAT I WAS SAYING + HAVE YOU EVER LISTENED TO THE GREATEST SHOWMEN SOUND TRACK?? (Its awesome)

                  

                          

Power of life and Death

         

as i sit, reflecting on what i have learned i sit in awe of the simple fact that we hold the power of life and death in our words, in your tongue.

• Ephesians 6:10 says “Finally my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.”
• Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue”

 your words have a power in them that can almost determine the fate of another. the immense simplicity of this can allow you to read over it without letting it sink in. so with that said I’ll say it again - YOU HOLD THR POWER OF LIFE AND DEATH IN YOUR WORDS - words have great power and these words specifically hold this power of life I've been talking about.
so let it sink in.
we as people can say one thing as plain and simple as how i just told it to you but the meaning behind it could turn someones life in a whole new direction. it can destroy a life but it can also bring a life to eternal life. so as i sit, reflecting on this simple truth i humble myself and i with careful consideration i think about what i say how this can bring you to life, in Jesus name.


WE ALL CAN BRING LIFE TO SOMEONE BY OUR WORDS & ACTIONS 

WHAT ARE SOME WORDS OF LIFE THAT YOU CAN THINK OF + FAVE SONG ABOUT THE POWER OF GOD 

My Random thoughts about Instagram

I took a week break from Instagram.
Today I signed back in and scrolled through the 7 days of posts and pictures.
I didn’t really think about it till after I closed my app & finished getting ready for the day. But here’s the thing, later I found myself thinking “wow my pics really aren’t that great.... I really should try and take better pictures” and I wish I had more followers.........
honestly it was kind of an oppressive feeling & I was like Whoa where is that coming from? The fear. The insecurity.
WHY??
Why am I feeling this way?
Why do I feel the need to try and be like others? Why wouldn’t I want to be myself.
Why do I give into that feeling of fear?
 Why do I let that rule my life?
Being afraid is a trap. Listen to what God has to say about that


It’s easy to say I don’t  but so much harder to actually live out those words. To say when that feeling of I’m not good enough comes whispering in your ear NO WAY. Not this time. & you proclaim the power of God over your life & thoughts. Because either we walk in the peace and security of Jesus or we live a fearful insecure life that is ruled by satan. & I know that lots people have talked about some of the same things I’m saying rn and probably do a much better job at it BUT here’s the thing, I don’t care. I’m not trying to sound a certain way or be a certain thing. These are my thoughts. The thoughts of a 18 year old rambler.
I’ve come to the  conclusion  that Instagram ( social media ) is not going to rule my life. I want to live an abundant life & fear has no place in that life!! It’s a journey. Every day is a struggle but thankfully I serve a patient and loving Father.
  I chose to live with JoY.
ps. This post went wayyyy off what I was originally going to say but I hope you were able to follow along w my ramblings. xxxx
HONEST THOUGHTS??? HAVE YOU STRUGGLED W SOCIAL MEDIA INSECURITIES??? + WHAT DID YOU DO THIS SUNDAY??

My Anthem

             

I’ve got a lot of words stored up in this brain. I’ve got a lot of emotions held up in this heart. But how do I get it all out?

Sometimes I wonder if I could do better,  if I could just be better at sharing how I feel with others. Instead of running it through my head. A lot can go wrong doing that. I love to study why people are the way they are and how their parents and peers affect them.

My parents show me lots of grace. My siblings give me grace when I mess up. my friends  show me immense amounts of grace..... which leads me to the question. Why? Why me? Why do the so  readily hand out Grace to me when they know I will probably fail again. I have done nothing to deserve it. As I reflected on this I put the pieces together.

I found something in common.

All of these people.

All of these people who love me with such a gentle, passion, love  Jesus with a POWER. These people love Jesus and put Him in their lives. Every moment of every day.  They put their lives in His hands because they know the truth of exactly where their going. They know that the grace of Jesus is going to meet them there. Right where their at. Isn’t that amazing!!!

This is my anthem these days. Grace is an incredible thing. I hope you reflect on it and thank the people who give it to you.

It’s strong. It’s ardent. It’s steadfast. And it will take you far. I love Jesus guys. I really do. That’s why I smile. My heart beats to this simple truth and I hope it clicks with you.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON GRACE + HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED A TOUGH SITUATION WHERE YOU HAD TO EXTEND GRACE TO SOMEONE